In CA you can keep a ticket off of your insurance record by going to a driving school. Back in the days before they were on the Internet an instructor told me that most car accidents happen under 40 miles an hour. I said "Woohoo! I'm safe!". She gave me a dirty look.
If you are travelling in a relatively straight line, I'd say driving faster limits your exposure time to accident possibilities. Curves, ice and rain change the dynamics somewhat though.