Basic Speed Law

Driving is fast paced. There is a lot going on around your vehicle that needs to be taken into account. That’s why speed limits are important. They tell us a safe speed to travel at in a given area. However, sometimes even the posted speed limit is not safe. This is where the Basic Speed Law comes into effect. The Basic Speed Law tells us to not drive faster than is reasonable and prudent under the current conditions. That means you need to take into account everything going on in your driving environment and decide what the safest speed is. Otherwise, you could find yourself with a ticket.

When determining what a safe speed should be, some things to consider are:

• How’s the weather? Is it a clear day? Is it raining?
• What time of day is it? Is it daytime or nighttime?
• How’s the flow of traffic? Is there traffic congestion?
• Are there pedestrians? Is there a lot of foot traffic or children playing nearby?
• Are you sharing the road? Is there a bicyclist on the road?
• What’s the road like? Is the road wet or dry? Narrow or wide?