A 3-minute lesson from the Maryland course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.
A speed limit is a ceiling, not a target. Maryland expects you to drive at a speed that fits the road and the conditions, and never above the posted limit.
Posted speed limit
The maximum legal speed you can travel on a road under ideal (perfect) conditions.
It is safest to drive at the same speed as most traffic, up to the limit. Driving slower than other traffic makes others pass you constantly, which increases the chance of a crash.
The limit is 55 mph, but heavy rain has flooded the road's edges. Slowing to 40 mph is legal and smart; going 60 to keep up with a speeding car is illegal, no matter how clear the lane looks.
Check your understanding
Read the question, decide on an answer, then open it to check the explanation. These are Roadwise study questions based on the source handbook.
What does the posted speed limit represent?
The maximum speed in ideal conditions
The minimum legal speed at all times
The recommended average speed for the road
The speed limit only during the day
Answer: The maximum speed in ideal conditions
The posted speed limit is the maximum legal speed you can travel under ideal conditions.
Compared to a crash on a road with a speed limit of 40 mph or lower, how much more likely is a crash on a 65+ mph road to result in death?
Nearly 5 times as likely
About twice as likely
About the same likelihood
About ten times as likely
Answer: Nearly 5 times as likely
The handbook (citing NHTSA) says a crash on a road with a 65 mph or higher limit is nearly five times as likely to result in death as one on a road with a 40 mph or lower limit.