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Although it’s a form of reckless driving, the need for speed is arguably a universal one. Sometimes, it’s driven by anxiety, frustration, and pressure to get to where you’re going. Other times, it’s a pleasurable sensation of freedom and exhilaration, perhaps with a smidge of the Freudian self-destructive death drive. At all times, it’s a safety risk, which Chicago has tackled head-on with a controversial network of automated speed cameras.
The Windy City has one of the country’s biggest and most robust automated traffic enforcement systems of both red-light and speed cameras, the latter of which were introduced in 2013. A 2022 University of Illinois Chicago report found that from 2017-2019, these speed cameras cut down accidents by 12%. With 50 new speed cameras installed in 2025, Chicago is now issuing a speeding ticket every 48 seconds (26% more than the year before), according to Illinois Policy. At this time, over 200 cameras populate the city, including in some of the most vibrant neighborhoods, like Lincoln Park. These cameras are working faster than ever to flag drivers going 6+ miles over the speed limit during posted times. The fine depends on the speed: 6-10 miles above the limit is a $35 fee, while 11+ miles is $100…