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Traffic tickets

driving too fast for conditions

Even if you are driving under the posted speed limit, you may be given a ticket or citation for driving too fast for the conditions. Driving too fast for conditions is defined as traveling at a speed that is greater than a reasonable standard for safe driving.

Examples of conditions where drivers may find themselves driving too fast include wet roadways (rain, snow, or ice); reduced visibility (fog); uneven roads; construction zones; curves; intersections; gravel roads; and heavy traffic.

In Alabama, as in many other states, drivers can receive a ticket for driving too fast for conditions, even if they are below the posted speed limit. This is because the law requires drivers to operate their vehicles at a speed that is safe for the current conditions of the road. Factors that can affect what is considered a safe speed include inclement weather (such as rain, snow, or ice), reduced visibility (like fog), road construction, uneven road surfaces, curves, intersections, gravel roads, and heavy traffic. Alabama Code Title 32, Motor Vehicles and Traffic, Section 32-5A-170, states that no person shall drive a vehicle on a highway at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the conditions and having regard for the actual and potential hazards then existing. Violating this statute can result in a citation for driving too fast for conditions, which is a subjective assessment made by the officer based on the circumstances at the time of the infraction.

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Traffic tickets

driving too fast for conditions

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Alabama State Code

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Traffic tickets

driving too fast for conditions

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