What does California's Basic Speed Law require of a driver?
-
A.
You must drive at the posted speed limit at all times
-
B.
You may never drive faster than is safe for the current road conditions Correct
-
C.
You must match the average speed of surrounding traffic
The answer is "You may never drive faster than is safe for the current road conditions"
The Basic Speed Law makes the driver's judgment the governing standard: you may never go faster than is safe for the conditions in front of you, even under the posted limit. The posted-limit choice reflects the habit of treating the sign as both floor and ceiling; the manual explicitly names conditions where a lawful driver must go slower.
The traps in the wrong answers
A. You must drive at the posted speed limit at all times
Treats the posted sign as an absolute standard, which the Basic Speed Law overrides. This answer reads the posted number as a fixed target because that habit is easier than judging conditions.
C. You must match the average speed of surrounding traffic
Matching surrounding traffic is a common driving practice, not a rule the Basic Speed Law establishes. This answer confuses the habit of pacing other drivers with the safety-first standard the manual actually names.
This question tests your knowledge of Speed Limits in California. Source: California Driver Manual, "Manage Your Speed," p.67..
Related California questions
- What is the speed limit within 500 feet of a school when children are outside or crossing the street, unless otherwise posted? →
- Unless otherwise posted, what is the speed limit in a business or residential district? →
- Unless otherwise posted, what is the ideal maximum speed limit on most California highways? →
- On a two-lane undivided highway in California, what is the maximum speed limit unless otherwise posted? →
- What is the speed limit when driving in an alley? →
You just took one California question apart. The book does it for the whole test.
The California book unlocks a free companion: an adaptive study plan, progress synced across your devices, a denser laminate cheat sheet, and a test-day walkthrough. Verify your copy once, usually in seconds; there's nothing extra to buy.
$18.99 paperback, free companion included.