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 Louisiana, as in many states, it is possible to receive a ticket for driving too fast for conditions, even if you are driving at or below the posted speed limit. This is because the law requires drivers to operate their vehicles at a safe speed given the current conditions of the road. Factors that can influence 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. Louisiana Revised Statutes Title 32, Section 64 addresses the general rules of the road, and while it does not explicitly define 'driving too fast for conditions,' it does mandate 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 to the actual and potential hazards then existing. This means that law enforcement has the discretion to determine if a driver is going too fast for the current conditions and issue citations accordingly.