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DMV Permit · Speed Limits

What does the 'basic speed law' require of drivers, regardless of the posted limit?

Reviewed by Jordan Morley, Editorial Lead at 247SimpleTests. Written by the 247SimpleTests Editorial Team from the official source material cited on every question.

Correct answer

Never drive faster than is safe for the current conditions, even if that is below the posted limit

  1. A Always drive at the posted limit
  2. B Drive as fast as traffic allows
  3. C The posted limit is only a suggestion
  4. D Never drive faster than is safe for the current conditions, even if that is below the posted limit

Why this is the answer

The basic speed law requires that you never drive faster than is reasonable and safe for the existing conditions — traffic, weather, visibility, and road surface — regardless of the posted speed limit. The posted limit is the maximum under ideal conditions, not a guarantee that the limit is always safe. In rain, fog, heavy traffic, or near hazards, the safe speed may be well below the posted number, and driving too fast for conditions can be a violation even when under the limit. Understanding that you must adjust to conditions, not just obey the number on the sign, is a fundamental rules-of-the-road concept.
Source: State driver handbook, Basic Speed Law

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About this topic: Speed Limits

Speed limit questions cover the default limits in school zones, residential areas, business districts and highways, the basic speed rule (never faster than conditions allow) and how to adjust speed for weather and traffic. This is one of 11 Rules of the Road questions on speed limits, each with a full explanation on a single study page.

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