We all know speeding on the road can lead to serious consequences. Yet, plenty of drivers still take the risk, hoping they won’t get caught.
When they do, law enforcement often hears a flood of excuses. Some are predictable, others more creative—but every now and then, they turn out to be completely true, impressing even the police officers who hear them. So much so that they’ve shared these surprising stories online.
Read them below, and remember—stay safe out there!
#1
I once was led on a five-mile car chase through busy city streets at 20 MPH over normal speeds with the driver refusing to stop. The path they were taking made me realize they were trying to get somewhere quickly, not trying to evade me. Finally the driver, who turned out to be a middle-aged woman, stopped in front of a house where an ambulance was waiting. The woman leapt from her car and ran to unlock the door to allow the medics entry to the house that had security barred windows and doors. She burst into the house ahead of the EMTs obviously trying to find the occupant with them. I entered behind them to offer assistance and found myself assuming the role of comforter to the woman as the paramedics declared her mother’s death. The woman had a major breakdown and I wound up holding her for over a half hour as she cried inconsolably until her husband arrived. She tried apologizing for her driving actions between sobs but I assured her I would have done the same thing and that she wouldn’t be getting a ticket from me that day. Sometimes traffic laws simply do not apply.
102points
#2
I’ve been one to work much traffic enforcement because I refused to be a revenue generator for a city that told us what laws we can/cant enforce. Well back 10–12yrs ago a Small SUV blows by me on the highway (60mph limit )Stopped the car once it hit 100mph. I immediately asked *driving a little fast, is everything ok? The super nervous but extremely polite 19–20yr old female wearing a Fedex uniform, quickly explains “I work for Fedex & if im late one more time. I may lose my job. Im working & going to school full time at community college, has a class one day a week that always gets out late & has put her in this predicament, etc…After confirming she was valid, I told her no more driving that fast because I promise this will be the ONLY time you will be given a police escort to work instead of a very expensive ticket. a feW weeks later, she & her Dad tracked me down to thank me & would hear from her every few years. Ebony went on to graduate from Ohio State and became a Pharmacist 6–7yrs ago.
95points
#3
My department got a call of an erratic driver, exceeding speeds of 100 mph on I-5. I waited for the vehicle to pass one of our overpasses and waited for the vehicle. When the vehicle drove past it was definitely at a high rate of speed. I bumper paced the vehicle at around 110 mph. After conducting the traffic stop and contacting the driver, he told me he was a surgeon from the Bay Area and had been called to do an emergency heart surgery at a hospital in Redding. The law allows medical personnel responding to medical emergencies to expedite their response. I took his information and sent him on his way. I contacted the hospital in Redding and sure enough he was sent there to do heart surgery. The surgery ended well and the patient survived.
65points
Driving is such a common part of daily life that it’s easy to forget the serious responsibility it involves. Each time you get behind the wheel, you’re entrusted with protecting not only your own well-being but that of everyone else on the road. After all, automobiles remain one of the most dangerous means of transportation, second only to motorcycles.
Still, that knowledge isn’t always enough to keep drivers from breaking the rules. According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety’s annual Traffic Safety Culture Index (TSCI), only 41% of drivers in 2022 were considered safe. Based on responses from 2,499 participants, the study found that more than 1 in 5 admitted to speeding, while others confessed to driving while distracted.
#4
I stopped a car going about seventy in a forty five zone and the guy was panicking when I got to the window. I asked what is wrong and he said he was dying. What? Yes I am dying..and need to get to the hospital…He was very white and sweating badly too. So I said I will call a ambulance for him. But before I could do any thing he collapsed onto the steering wheel and stopped breathing. I opened his door got him out an onto the pavement and started CPR while getting dispatch to send a unit to my location.
The Unit arrived and paramedics took over for me. Transported him to the hospital where he was treated for a heart attack. He survived but only because he stopped for me. The hospital was over 5 miles away and he would never have made it on his own.
I visited him later at the hospital, he thanked me. and we chatted a few mins. Then I left. I later found out he died two hours after I left there. His heart seemed to have just exploded the Dr Told me. So this would be the best excuse for speeding I have ever heard that turned out to be true. He WAS dying.
Cheers
The Unit arrived and paramedics took over for me. Transported him to the hospital where he was treated for a heart attack. He survived but only because he stopped for me. The hospital was over 5 miles away and he would never have made it on his own.
I visited him later at the hospital, he thanked me. and we chatted a few mins. Then I left. I later found out he died two hours after I left there. His heart seemed to have just exploded the Dr Told me. So this would be the best excuse for speeding I have ever heard that turned out to be true. He WAS dying.
Cheers
56points
#5
I’m not a police officer but this actually happened to me as the driver. I was taking my girlfriend to the beach so that I could propose to her. We lived about 30 mins away from our favorite beach and boardwalk and it closes at sundown. We had made plans to go to the beach that day but when we got home from work she was dawdling and Iwas so keyed up to propose to her that I practically forced her to go. When we got close to the beach and the sun was hanging low on the horizon I decided to speed and immediately got pulled over. The officer came to the car I I explained to him I had a reason but needed to get out of the car to tell him. He begrudgingly let me out of the vehicle and my gf was completely flustered at this point. The officer says this better be a good one and I tell him I’m proposing to the lady in the car and knew our favorite spot and parking lot would be closing at dusk. He asked me if I had the ring and I said I did in my front pocket. He said he wanted to see it so I pull the box out and open it up like I’m proposing to him and he just nods at me. Slaps me on the arm and says good luck and keep it safe. I said thank you and off we went. I made the proposal and she accepted but the story of it was the police officer who made out night. This was on Long Island in 2004 and l hope he reads this. Thank you!
48points
#6
I'm not a cop, but I was in the US on holidays and driving from Chicago to Wisconsin when a cop pulled me over.
I was driving what i considered to be a huge SUV. It seemed a normal size compared to other cars when i actually got on the road. Anyhow, i get pulled, and he asks me if I knew that I was doing 80 in a 55 zone? I was honest and said i didn't see the speed limit signs and that I'm used to kmph. I thought i was driving at a safe speed. I told him that at home, you could do 120kmph on a road like this…. If my car could do 120kmph. This piqued his interest and he asked what i drove. I told him i had a small nissan micra and the SUV had a much more powerful engine than I was used to, so I thought I was just tipping along. He asked what size engine was in a micra, and i told him it's a 1L.
He stared at me for a moment, then burst out laughing and told me that his lawnmower has a bigger engine.
He let me off because my excuse was so odd that it must be genuine, and I think i brightened up a dull day. Before he walked away, he just said… a 1L engine and started laughing again.
I sold the micra about a month after coming home.
I was driving what i considered to be a huge SUV. It seemed a normal size compared to other cars when i actually got on the road. Anyhow, i get pulled, and he asks me if I knew that I was doing 80 in a 55 zone? I was honest and said i didn't see the speed limit signs and that I'm used to kmph. I thought i was driving at a safe speed. I told him that at home, you could do 120kmph on a road like this…. If my car could do 120kmph. This piqued his interest and he asked what i drove. I told him i had a small nissan micra and the SUV had a much more powerful engine than I was used to, so I thought I was just tipping along. He asked what size engine was in a micra, and i told him it's a 1L.
He stared at me for a moment, then burst out laughing and told me that his lawnmower has a bigger engine.
He let me off because my excuse was so odd that it must be genuine, and I think i brightened up a dull day. Before he walked away, he just said… a 1L engine and started laughing again.
I sold the micra about a month after coming home.
41points
Speeding, in particular, is a glaring issue, as it contributes to 54% of global road fatalities. But for many, the risks don’t feel significant enough to break the habit. To understand why, Bored Panda reached out to UK driving instructor Jason Horsfield, who runs a TikTok account with over 150,000 followers and has created a comprehensive online driving course to help others improve.
According to Horsfield, the situation in the UK is “completely out of control” due to a lack of enforcement and discipline. “There is no police presence on the roads like there was in the 1970s and 1980s,” he explained. “Back then, people were fearful of doing wrong, but cuts to police, especially road police, have brought us to where we are today.”
“People don’t care about others anymore,” he added, “even bullying my learners during lessons when they’re doing nothing wrong.”
#7
In 1990, I was 3 weeks late from giving birth. We lived in NYC and one fall friday, I had to go to our bank, the very private Bankers Trust on Park Ave. My husband waited at the curb in our car. I was in the waiting area when my water broke. This is a bank where everyone spoke in hushed tones. I said to the receptionist, “I don't want to alarm anyone, but my water just broke” OMG they rushed me through in record time. 2 security guards escorted me down the escalator.
Got into the car & Clifton took off. Except he was so flustered he drove UP 5th Ave when he picked 63rd instead of 66th to cross to the West side. We were trying to get to a cross street to turn when two police men on horseback rode in front of us. Once we explained *and now I'm in full blown labor* the two police escorted to 66th, and a police car met us on the other side of the park. We zipped up Amsterdam, with blazing sirens. Got to Women's hospital, my husband let me out and went to work. The next day all 6 of the police officers stopped in to see the “wrong way” baby.
Got into the car & Clifton took off. Except he was so flustered he drove UP 5th Ave when he picked 63rd instead of 66th to cross to the West side. We were trying to get to a cross street to turn when two police men on horseback rode in front of us. Once we explained *and now I'm in full blown labor* the two police escorted to 66th, and a police car met us on the other side of the park. We zipped up Amsterdam, with blazing sirens. Got to Women's hospital, my husband let me out and went to work. The next day all 6 of the police officers stopped in to see the “wrong way” baby.
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41points
#8
In the late 1980s I stopped this brown, 4 door, Pontiac, sedan for hauling a*s down a city street. I walked up to the car and asked the young lady for her license and registration. She handed them to me and I observed that she looked bad and was sweating. I asked her if she knew why I stopped her. Yes said that she did and that she had to poop really bad and was trying to make it home. The evidence suggested that she was telling the truth. I handed her her documents and said be careful. Down the road she went..
Move forward a decade.. I was looking around in a book store and I overheard this lady telling that story. She told the lady that she was talking to that she really was sick and needed to get to a restroom. I walked around the shelves and said; “That officer was me”. She didn’t believe me till I told her the exact vehicle description, time of day and location of the stop. We became friends and still laugh about it all these years later..
She sent me a bumper sticker that says: “I’m driving this way because I have to poop!”
Move forward a decade.. I was looking around in a book store and I overheard this lady telling that story. She told the lady that she was talking to that she really was sick and needed to get to a restroom. I walked around the shelves and said; “That officer was me”. She didn’t believe me till I told her the exact vehicle description, time of day and location of the stop. We became friends and still laugh about it all these years later..
She sent me a bumper sticker that says: “I’m driving this way because I have to poop!”
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40points
#9
I observed a car traveling 94 in a 45. It took me a minute or so to catch up to them, and when they finally stopped we were at the entrance to a local hospital. As I approached the car, the driver jumped out, which is a big no no, and obviously puts officers on edge. I asked him why he was driving so crazy, and to get back into the car. He was yelling that his friend had just been shot. So I worked my way around the passenger side of the vehicle, noticing multiple bullet holes in the rear quarter panel of the car.
At that point I saw the passenger sitting covered in blood with at least 2 gunshot wounds. One to his hand, and another to his calf. At that point it was fair to say his excuse was valid. During my time as a patrol deputy, I was amazed at how many shooting victims drove themselves to the hospital. Way more than you would think.
At that point I saw the passenger sitting covered in blood with at least 2 gunshot wounds. One to his hand, and another to his calf. At that point it was fair to say his excuse was valid. During my time as a patrol deputy, I was amazed at how many shooting victims drove themselves to the hospital. Way more than you would think.
38points
#10
My sister told me her account after being called at work and told her oldest son has passed away. She got pulled over, was in hysterical tears, and this state trooper (after verifying everything) had my sister get into his car and he brought her home.
My nephew was only 9 years old. So you can imagine why my sister was absolutely hysterical. I'm glad that trooper had the decency to take her home rather than jail. She said she was doing close to 100 mph trying to get home in a state that she shouldn't have been driving in.
My nephew was only 9 years old. So you can imagine why my sister was absolutely hysterical. I'm glad that trooper had the decency to take her home rather than jail. She said she was doing close to 100 mph trying to get home in a state that she shouldn't have been driving in.
37points
#11
A friend of mine did this. He’s a doctor and was late evening and he was on his way home from the hospital. He was speeding. He was pulled over by a police officer who saw the hospital parking sticker on his windshield. The officer said, “I suppose you are going to tell me you are on your way to an emergency.” My friend replied, “No, I’m on my way home.” The officer shook his head and gave him the ticket. My friend’s lawyer suggested that he show up in court since the fine also included points. The lawyer told him that it was not unusual for the officer who issued the ticket not to show up so the judge might then dismiss the charges.
So he went to traffic court. When it was his turn, the judge asked, “Why were you speeding? Were you on your way to an emergency?” And my friend, being the honest sort, said, “No, your honor. It was late and I was rushing to get home.” The judge replied, “That is the first honest answer I’ve ever heard from a doctor! Charges dismissed.”
There are times when it is useful to tell the truth even when everyone would say you are crazy for doing so.
So he went to traffic court. When it was his turn, the judge asked, “Why were you speeding? Were you on your way to an emergency?” And my friend, being the honest sort, said, “No, your honor. It was late and I was rushing to get home.” The judge replied, “That is the first honest answer I’ve ever heard from a doctor! Charges dismissed.”
There are times when it is useful to tell the truth even when everyone would say you are crazy for doing so.
37points
#12
I was a cop in Richmond Virginia in the late eighties. I pulled over this guy that said he was afraid he was going to have diarrhea, so he was driving 55 in a 25 mph zone. While he was sympathetic to his problem, I had heard a version of this story probably five times in the four months I had worked there. So it took his license and registration and went back to my car to write the ticket. When I came back to his car, the smell was horrible! He had an accident in his pants. I tore up the ticket, and sent him on his way. I later got written up for the missing ticket, but it was worth it!
33points
#13
I lived in Albuquerque New Mexico and drove to Santa Fe once a month to work on a committee for the Governor.
The Interstate had a 75 mph speed limit and was through mostly deserted Indian territory.
I drove by a car that I recognized, that had been stopped by a cop.
Later, at the office, I asked the woman, who was an administrative assistant for the Governor, what happened and she said she’d been stopped for doing 95 in a 75 zone.
She told the cop “I work for the Governor”.
The state trooper replied “So do I”…and wrote her a ticket.
The Interstate had a 75 mph speed limit and was through mostly deserted Indian territory.
I drove by a car that I recognized, that had been stopped by a cop.
Later, at the office, I asked the woman, who was an administrative assistant for the Governor, what happened and she said she’d been stopped for doing 95 in a 75 zone.
She told the cop “I work for the Governor”.
The state trooper replied “So do I”…and wrote her a ticket.
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33points
#14
I’m not a cop but this is a funny story. In 1986 I was in the Marines, got stationed at Kadena AFB in Okinawa. They drive on the left side of the road there. I returned stateside in ’87 and immediately took 30 days of leave. I was driving around town when I made a right turn into the left lane of the street I was turning onto, as soon as I did this, I realized what I did and corrected for it but got pulled over anyway. I told the cop that I had a good reason for the mistake and he replied, “If you can tell me one I haven’t heard before, I’ll let you go.” I explained the situation in Okinawa and that I had a brain fart and turned into the wrong lane. He said I was the first guy to give an honest excuse he hadn’t heard and let me go with a warning.
30points
#15
It wasn’t an excuse but the driver didn’t get a ticket:
I was talking with a group of highway patrol officers and the discussion turned it this subject. One HP said he clocked a man in a Camaro dead on 110 MPH in a 60 zone. He said, “When I walked up to the driver’s window I decided to be a jerk instead of a professional. I said, You were really flying back there, lets see your pilots license pal.”
Another HP officer said, “Oh no and …?”
The first one said,, “Yep, had about a dozen certifications too. Multi engine, instrument rating, props, jets, types of planes I’ve never even heard of. I felt like a complete idiot when I handed his papers back and said, Okay just keep the speed down to the limit when you’re not in the air.”
I was talking with a group of highway patrol officers and the discussion turned it this subject. One HP said he clocked a man in a Camaro dead on 110 MPH in a 60 zone. He said, “When I walked up to the driver’s window I decided to be a jerk instead of a professional. I said, You were really flying back there, lets see your pilots license pal.”
Another HP officer said, “Oh no and …?”
The first one said,, “Yep, had about a dozen certifications too. Multi engine, instrument rating, props, jets, types of planes I’ve never even heard of. I felt like a complete idiot when I handed his papers back and said, Okay just keep the speed down to the limit when you’re not in the air.”
30points
#16
Not a Cop, but in about 1973 in Liberal, Kansas, a friend's Dad was a farmer and lost his thumb and 2 fingers while working on somre farm machinery. He quickly wrapped his hand in a handkerchief and walked to the house. My friend's Mom heard him yell for her. She looked outside and saw the blood. She grabbed pickup keys and shoved him in their pickup and headed for the hospital in town. She came into town and hit Western Avenue. It was a 30 mph zone and on the edge of town. She had her foot to the floor, and the pickup was probably doing 85 mph or more and still accelerating when one of Liberal's finest pulled alongside with his lights and siren going. My friend's Dad held up his hand. The Mom said later that the Cop turned white and waved for her to follow him. He got in front and she saw him pick up the hand microphone for the radio. A Doctor and two Nurses met them at the door to the ER. They got my friend's Dad out and took him in immediately. The Cop helped her get parked and escorted the Mom in to the ER desk. She gave them the information needed. The Cop said no ticket as he left.
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30points
#17
I had a cousin who was racing to the hospital to say goodbye to his grandfather. He was very close to him and he was expected to pass any minute. The trooper asked his grandfather’s name and what hospital he was at, gave him his condolences and let him go. There was only one problem, that story was completely made up. The trooper had someone look into it only to quickly learn there was no one in that hospital with that name. They tracked him down and gave him a larger fine.
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30points
#18
First off, I was one who would not stop anyone until they were going 18 or more MPH over the speed limit. At that point, most don't even bother, a lot of my stops were in 30 MPH zones. One time, I stopped an executive looking lady in an all white dress suit and skirt, she jumped out of her car and stated she was rushing home because her period had just started and she needed a pad or tampon to keep from bleeding all over her outfit. I looked at her, thought to myself this was one excuse I did not want to check further into, and I just told her to head on home but slow down. There are just things we should just take at face value, and this was one of them.
28points
#19
As a pet owner, I was once stopped like this:
My eight-pound Papillon fell under the railing of a stairwell and landed on the concrete at the bottom. I don’t know how high a fall that was, but high enough to potentially smash a little dog up very thoroughly.
I was 20 miles from my vet when this happened. I hit around 90 mph — the speed limit was probably 60, maybe 65. A cop pulled me over. I explained, probably incoherently, while pointing at my limp dog on the passenger seat. He waved me on. I probably hit 90 again before I was out of his sight.
Long story short, my dog was extremely lucky. He wasn’t badly hurt. The shock had knocked him for a loop and he was pretty stiff, but he hadn’t broken anything. My vet and I were both astonished.
Anyway, my story was absolutely true and apparently constituted a good excuse in the opinion of the cop. I’ll always be grateful. If my dog had been seriously hurt, that cop might have saved his life by letting me go.
My eight-pound Papillon fell under the railing of a stairwell and landed on the concrete at the bottom. I don’t know how high a fall that was, but high enough to potentially smash a little dog up very thoroughly.
I was 20 miles from my vet when this happened. I hit around 90 mph — the speed limit was probably 60, maybe 65. A cop pulled me over. I explained, probably incoherently, while pointing at my limp dog on the passenger seat. He waved me on. I probably hit 90 again before I was out of his sight.
Long story short, my dog was extremely lucky. He wasn’t badly hurt. The shock had knocked him for a loop and he was pretty stiff, but he hadn’t broken anything. My vet and I were both astonished.
Anyway, my story was absolutely true and apparently constituted a good excuse in the opinion of the cop. I’ll always be grateful. If my dog had been seriously hurt, that cop might have saved his life by letting me go.
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26points
#20
I was called to assist medical for a baby not breathing. By the time I arrived the ambulance was transporting the baby to the hospital. So I typed in my notes, cleared the scene and as I was at the stop light pulling out of the location the person in front of me sped away from the light really quick. I stopped them for speeding. I got up to the Window and the lady says “they just took my baby to the hospital” so I said “go” and walked the other way. I let dispatch know about the stop and then called out the make and color of the car to let others on the shift to not stop her if they saw her speeding on the way to the hospital.
25points