California DMV Permit Test (Class C)Safe Driving PracticesHard
You are driving on a residential street where children are playing near the sidewalk. What is the maximum speed you should drive, regardless of the posted speed limit?
- A35 mph
- BThe posted speed limit, as long as it's not above 55 mph.
- C25 mph
- D45 mph
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: C. 25 mph
In California, the basic speed law requires you to never drive faster than is safe for current conditions. When children are playing, a maximum speed of 25 mph is generally recommended and often implied as the safe speed, even if the posted limit is higher, due to the unpredictability of children.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. 35 mph is generally too fast when children are actively playing nearby.
- B. The basic speed law always supersedes the posted limit if conditions (like playing children) make a lower speed necessary for safety.
- D. 45 mph is dangerously fast in an area with playing children.
Basic Speed Law (Children Present)
The California Basic Speed Law states you must never drive faster than is safe for current conditions. When children are playing, a speed of 25 mph is generally considered the maximum safe speed, regardless of higher posted limits.
- Basic Speed Law always applies.
- Children are unpredictable hazards.
- 25 mph is a common safe limit in residential zones.
- Adjust speed to ensure ability to stop safely.
Memory trick: Kids at play? Slow down today, 25 is the safe way.