School zones, work zones, school buses and bad conditions

Explanation

School zones. Near a school, slow down to the lower, posted school zone limit. Common hours are 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, or whenever school speed limit beacons are flashing. Local authorities may also set lower limits whenever children are present.

Work zones. Work site speed limits are always at least 10 mph below the area’s normal maximum, and you must obey them. Some apply only when their lights are flashing; others apply at all times.

School buses have their own maximums: 40 mph when not on an interstate or state highway (unless the posted limit is lower), and 60 mph (or as posted) on an interstate or highway.

Bad conditions. Excessive speed is dangerous even in ideal conditions. Driving at or above the posted limit is even more dangerous in bad weather or poor visibility, on slick or icy roads, with worn tires, in an unsafe vehicle, when you are physically impaired, or on a hazardous road surface.

Example

On a snowy morning the posted limit is 45 mph, but the road is slick. Driving at the posted limit on a slick road is even more dangerous than usual, so reduce your speed.

Common mistake

Speeding up in a work zone because no workers are visible. If the limit is in effect at all times, it applies whether or not anyone is working.

What the manual says

If you are driving near a school, you must slow down to the lower, posted speed limit for the school zone. Common hours for school zone speed limits are 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday or when school speed limit beacons are flashing.

Work site speed limits are always at least 10 miles per hour below the maximum established speed limit for the area.

When not driving on an interstate or state highway, the maximum speed limit for a school bus is 40 miles per hour unless the posted speed limit is lower.