An Albany County Sheriff’s Office deputy patrolling a dark and lonely stretch of Happy Jack Road between Laramie and Cheyenne earlier this month likely wasn’t smiling when a Chevrolet Corvette was clocked at 112 mph as it whizzed past him in the opposite direction.
The driver, whose name wasn’t released, was quickly pulled over, cited for speeding, and now faces a hefty fine for violating the highway's 65 mph posted limit. But the traffic stop, as well as a number of others in Albany County and other rural counties in recent months, raises the question of whether Wyoming drivers have a speed problem.
Frank Groth, a retired law enforcement officer from the California Bay Area who lives in Gillette, said he is amazed by the number of speeders in Wyoming.
"People often get behind the wheel of a car and they think they are in a place they can control,” he said. “The primary factor (in crashes involving speeding) is driving too fast for existing conditions. They overestimate their own abilities. People get the feeling of entitlement.”
Despite the seriousness of the traffic stop at about 9 p.m. Oct. 9, Albany County Sheriff Aaron Appelhans had some fun with a Facebook post reminding motorists of the perils of speeding in an area filled with wildlife.
“That’s not driving — that’s playing deer dodgeball at 100+ MPH,” he states. “Between the elk, deer, and raccoons holding midnight meetings, you’re basically speeding through a wildlife convention.
"Slower speeds mean fewer accidents, fewer tow trucks, and more critters staying off your hood. Pro tip: Deer don't have headlights, but they do have terrible timing.”
Fast Drivers
In June, MoneySuperMarket, a research firm that conducts reviews and analysis on consumer services such as car insurance, used data from Google Routes to determine the fastest drivers in the world.
Specifically, the group looked to rank average driving speeds.
The United States ranked first. Wyoming has the fastest drivers, who travel an average of 71.8 mph on long drives, according to the study.
New Mexico was second at 71 mph. Idaho was third at 70.5 mph. New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maryland ranked at the bottom with long-distance average driving speeds below 55 mph.
The reasons behind Wyoming becoming the nation’s racetrack vary. It helps to be the least populated state in the nation.
Fewer people mean less traffic, the study found.
“At the) U.S. state-level, many of the less densely populated states rank among the fastest for long-distance driving due to lower congestion and it being possible to maintain higher speeds for long distances,” the study said.
Between 2019 and 2023, which are the most recent years for which data is available, there were 4,298 traffic crashes and 39 fatalities, involving aggressive, erratic, reckless, or careless driving behavior, which is often associated with speeding, according to the Wyoming Department of Transportation.
The fine in Wyoming for driving 21 mph over the posted speed limit is $175 and increases by $5 for each additional mile per hour above that. Out-of-state drivers who are pulled over are often surprised by how low the fine is and that Wyoming doesn’t have an insurance point system for traffic tickets, said Wyoming Highway Patrol Captain Michael Simmons, based in Laramie. “They almost scoff,” said Simmons, who doesn’t see the fine schedule as a significant deterrent to speeding. “They say it's not worth going to court over, so they pay the fine online and move on.” As a result, Wyoming State Troopers mainly issue tickets to enforce and educate drivers, and to curb their behavior.
The science behind fatal car crashes and speed is simple.
The faster a vehicle strikes a large, stationary object like a bear, mountain lion, or moose, the greater the chance of a deadly outcome, especially if drivers and passengers aren’t wearing seatbelts, Appelhans said.
The driver of the Corvette pulled over on Happy Jack Road, which has twists and turns and extends about 30 miles, likely regrets the expensive traffic ticket but is “lucky to have arrived alive,” said Appelhans.
Fast And Furious
Numerous daring Wyoming drivers with a lead foot have made headlines for high-speed chases and deadly crashes.
Gennavieve Boomer of Casper is facing up to 20 1/2 years in prison for allegedly causing the July 14 death of 18-year-old passenger Sammantha Brooks, who was ejected from a Toyota Avalon that plowed into two bull elk on Wyoming Hwy. 487 in Carbon County.
In May 2024, a 16-year-old boy led Campbell County Sheriff’s deputies on a high-speed chase for more than 13 minutes, reaching speeds of 142 mph in a newly acquired black Cadillac before pulling over.
Also in July, six men were charged in connection with a luxury auto racing incident that reached speeds of 111 mph during an elite car rally in Grand Teton National Park.
Scott Schwebke can be reached at scott@cowboystatedaily.com.
