On any given road, at any given time, the posted speed limit might be too fast for current conditions — or unrealistically low.
An interstate highway built in the 1950s for safe travel at speeds of 70-75 mph but with a posted maximum of 65 mph today is arguably underposted.
And the same road could be treacherous at 55 mph in January, after a heavy snow.
Most of us adjust our speed to match conditions — irrespective of the posted limit. We notch it down when it’s necessary — and often ignore the posted maximum when it’s below what strikes us as a reasonable, safe speed. But whether we get a ticket depends on how our speed stacks up to that number posted on a sign — whether it’s reasonable or not.
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