When is speed not reasonable and prudent?

In the Empire State, speed limits are not just a suggestion. In fact, according to the New York State Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee, you must drive at or below posted speed limits to avoid a speeding ticket. If you receive too many speeding tickets, of course, you eventually can lose your driving privileges.

While it is easy to follow speed limits, you might also get a speeding ticket when you are driving slower than what the signs say. This is because New York law requires you to drive at a speed that is reasonable and prudent under the circumstances.

Weather conditions

Posted speed limits on New York roadways indicate the speed that is acceptable to drive during normal weather conditions. When there is ice, snow or rain on the road, it might be reasonable and prudent to reduce your speed. The same applies when fog and sun glare obstruct your view of the roadway.

Traffic patterns

As you probably know, parts of New York can have notoriously bad traffic. Traffic congestion might make it unreasonable and imprudent to drive at the posted speed. This is especially true if maintaining posted speeds requires you to tailgate other drivers or swerve in and out of lanes.

Road construction

Most road construction areas have slower speed limits to keep workers and drivers safe. It is important to follow these speed limits carefully, as speeding in a work zone can double your fine. Still, it might sometimes be reasonable and prudent to drive slower than the posted speed limit in a construction zone.

Ultimately, to ensure you always drive at a reasonable and prudent speed, it is important to pay close attention to road conditions throughout the duration of your drive.