California DMV Permit Test (Class C)Safe Driving PracticesMedium
You are driving on a road with a posted speed limit of 65 mph. The traffic around you is moving at 70 mph. To maintain safe driving practices, what speed should you generally adhere to?
- A60 mph, to be safer than the surrounding traffic.
- B70 mph, to match the flow of traffic.
- C65 mph, the posted speed limit.
- DAny speed between 65 mph and 70 mph, depending on your comfort.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: C. 65 mph, the posted speed limit.
While it can sometimes be safer to match the flow of traffic, the posted speed limit is the maximum legal speed under ideal conditions. Exceeding it, even if others are, can result in a ticket and increases risk. The safest practice is to adhere to the posted limit unless conditions require a slower speed.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Driving significantly slower than the flow of traffic can also be dangerous as it creates a hazard for others.
- B. Matching the flow of traffic when it exceeds the speed limit is illegal and unsafe, even if it feels 'normal'.
- D. The comfortable speed is irrelevant; the legal and safe speed is the posted limit, unless conditions dictate slower.
Posted Speed Limit
The maximum legal speed under ideal conditions; always adhere to it unless adverse conditions require a slower speed.
- It is the maximum legal speed.
- Exceeding it is illegal and increases crash risk.
- Conditions (weather, traffic) may require driving slower.
Memory trick: The sign says the limit, not the suggestion.