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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 North Carolina, driving too fast for conditions, even if below the posted speed limit, can result in a ticket or citation. This is because the state's traffic laws require motorists to operate their vehicles at a speed that is reasonable and prudent under the existing conditions and potential hazards. According to North Carolina General Statute § 20-141(a), a driver must not drive a vehicle on a highway at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the conditions then existing. Factors that can affect what is considered 'reasonable and prudent' include adverse weather conditions like rain, snow, or ice, reduced visibility such as fog, road construction, traffic congestion, and the nature of the road itself, such as curves or uneven surfaces. Law enforcement officers have the discretion to determine if a driver is going too fast for the conditions and issue citations accordingly.

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Traffic tickets

driving too fast for conditions

Individual & Family Legal Plan

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North-Carolina State Code

Traffic tickets

driving too fast for conditions

North-Carolina State Code

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