Red Lights and Rolling Stops: A Look at the Most Frequently Broken Traffic Laws

No one wants to think of themselves as a reckless driver, but chances are that most are bending the rules more than they realize. Bad driving habits range from eating behind the wheel to rolling through stop signs to driving without a license or insurance.

But in the spectrum of innocuous to downright dangerous, which infractions are the most common? Which are drivers OK with, and what would they never do? Our team at FinanceBuzz surveyed 1,000 U.S. drivers to find the most commonly broken laws on the road and understand which lines drivers are most willing to cross.

Key findings

67% of respondents admitted to eating while driving a car in the past year, making it the most reported dangerous driving activity.
62% of drivers reported speeding at least once in the past year, including at least half of drivers of all ages.
Distracted driving is widespread – 39% of drivers made phone calls without using Bluetooth, and 33% admitted to texting while driving.
Nearly 1 in 10 drivers admits to driving without insurance.

How many people on the road are distracted while driving?

According to NHTSA data, hundreds of thousands of accidents involving distracted drivers occur annually. This is a problem that impacts many people every year, and, thanks to things like smartphones and touchscreen navigation systems built into modern cars, it isn't going away anytime soon.

When it comes to specific ways that drivers distract themselves behind the wheel, the most common distraction is food. More than two-thirds of drivers (67%) reported eating or drinking while operating a car in the last year. While it may seem relatively harmless, driving with two hands is safer than driving with one, so even something as simple as eating a burger or fries increases the likelihood of an accident (to say nothing of a spilled drink or dipping sauce).

When it comes to cell phone usage, nearly 4 in 10 drivers (39%) reported talking on the phone without using a hands-free method or device last year. Older drivers were significantly less likely to engage in this kind of behavior; however, as just 25% of baby boomer drivers reported talking on the phone without using Bluetooth. In comparison, nearly twice as many millennial (48%) and Gen Z (47%) drivers admit to engaging in this kind of behavior while driving.

Similarly, millennials were most likely to text while behind the wheel (49%), compared to just 14% of baby boomers.

More than 60% of drivers admit to speeding

Another way drivers can put themselves and others at risk is by disobeying road rules and traffic laws that have been established to maximize the safety of all drivers. This category of dangerous behaviors includes actions such as speeding, disobeying posted road signs, and other similar offenses.

When it comes to this class of traffic violations, speeding is far and away the most common indiscretion, as 62% of drivers admit to driving above the speed limit. That includes at least half of drivers of all generations, with the lowest percentage of drivers admitting to speeding in a given age group being 54% of Gen Z and the highest being 66% of Gen X.

Beyond speeding, other common moving infractions that drivers admitted to include rolling through stop signs (38%), making illegal U-turns (21%), and making illegal red light turns (18%).

How many drive without wearing a seatbelt?

We examined one final way that drivers can break the law while operating a vehicle, which is operating it under unlawful conditions. This can mean driving while ignoring required safety features or restrictions, or using a car without the proper legal status to do so.

On this front, driving without a seatbelt is the most common infraction, with one in five drivers reporting that they did so in the last year. When it comes to this particular no-no, baby boomers are the least common offenders (just 8%), while for every other generation, the percentage of offenders ranges from 20% (Gen X) to 33% (Gen Z).

When it comes to two other offenses, Gen Z drivers broke the law at a much more pronounced clip than any other age bracket. While just 9% of the overall population drives cars with windows that have more tinting than is legal, that number is tripled (27%) among Gen Z.

Similarly, Gen Z also overcrowds cars by driving with more passengers than allowed at more than double the national rate. 21% of Gen Z drivers say they operated an overcrowded vehicle last year, compared to just 9% of millennials, 3% of Gen X, and 1% of baby boomers.

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Bottom line

Not following the law can lead to costly tickets, or worse, at-fault accidents where you're responsible for footing the bill for damages to your vehicle and someone else's.

If you're a reckless driver, make sure you have good coverage. Many of the best auto insurance companies offer deals and discounts for qualifying drivers, which can help reduce costs while also providing top-notch coverage.
Find the most affordable provider for your needs. For drivers who are particularly cost-conscious, some of the best cheap car insurance companies can offer quality coverage at a great price.
Found at fault? Educate yourself on coverage. Knowing how car insurance works and what it means can make it easier to understand what to compare and how to find the companies offering the best deal for your actual insurance needs.

Methodology

FinanceBuzz surveyed 1,000 U.S. adults ages 18 or older using a survey platform in May 2025. Results were stratified across age and gender to create a nationally representative sample.

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