Speed limits - California

California has a “Basic Speed Law.” This law means that you may never drive faster than is safe for current conditions. For example, if you are driving 45 mph in a 55 mph speed zone during a dense fog, you may be cited for driving “too fast for conditions.”

Regardless of the posted speed limit, your speed should depend on:

The number and speed of other vehicles on the road.

Whether the road surface is smooth, rough, graveled, wet, dry, wide, or narrow.

Bicyclists or pedestrians walking on the road’s edge or crossing the street.

Whether it is raining, foggy, snowing, windy, or dusty.