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 Maryland, 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. Maryland law requires drivers to operate their vehicles at a reasonable and prudent speed not only in relation to the posted speed limit but also considering the weather, traffic, and road conditions. This means that in adverse conditions such as rain, snow, ice, fog, construction zones, or heavy traffic, drivers are expected to adjust their speed to ensure safety. If a law enforcement officer determines that a driver is going too fast given the current conditions, they can issue a citation for driving too fast for conditions, which is considered a moving violation. The specific statutes that cover these rules include Maryland Transportation Code § 21-801.1, which addresses driving a vehicle on a highway at a speed that is greater than reasonable and prudent under the conditions and having regard to the actual and potential hazards then existing.