California Car / Permit practice question · Traffic Laws
What does California's "Basic Speed Law" require of drivers?
Answer choices
- You may never exceed the posted limit under any circumstances
- You must never drive faster than is safe for current conditions— Correct answer
- You may drive up to 10 mph over the limit while passing
- Speed limits apply only on freeways
Why this is the answer
California's Basic Speed Law says you may never drive faster than is safe for current road conditions. That holds whatever the posted limit says. Weather, traffic, the road surface, and pedestrians can all make a lower speed the safe one, so staying at the limit is not always enough, and the law applies on every road, not just freeways.
Source: California Driver Handbook — Speed Limits
Content reviewed against official driver handbooks · August 12, 2026
More Traffic Laws questions
- California law limits how far cargo may extend past your vehicle's fenders. Beyond the right fenders, cargo may extend no more than:
- Operating a vehicle with a license plate that is illegible or has been altered is:
- Unless otherwise posted, what is the speed limit in a residential or business district?
- At a red light, a right turn is:
- An alley is defined as a road no wider than 25 feet used to reach the side or rear of buildings. Unless otherwise posted, the speed limit in an alley is: