5 ms·

It is not codified as traffic law. California traffic laws encourage you to follow the general speed of traffic, but only if that speed is legal vis-a-vis the s

by hristov 17y ago

It is not codified as traffic law. California traffic laws encourage you to follow the general speed of traffic, but only if that speed is legal vis-a-vis the speed limits. If you speed, saying everybody else was speeding is technically not an excuse.

thaumaturgy 17y ago
CVC 21654: http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d11/vc21654.htm http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d11/vc21654.htm
- simon_ 17y ago
  Way to cite primary sources! It enriches these discussions so much when people are willing to do a little digging like this.
- hristov 17y ago
  I think we are talking about different things. Yes, there is a rule that says that if you are driving slower than other traffic you should go into the right lane. But nothing in this rule or any other rule gives you a right to drive above the speed limit even if everyone else is driving above the speed limit.
  - invisible 17y ago
    It actually does say (from my reading) that speed limit shall not be a factor if other traffic is going a similar speed. The very first line, "Notwithstanding the prima facie speed limits..." is where I got this explanation.
    - thaumaturgy 17y ago
      Well, yes and no. Oddly enough, I think everyone is right in this section of the thread so far: teilo said, "the safest speed is the average speed of traffic, regardless of the posted speed limit." This is true; it may not be the legal speed, but a vehicle doing 60 MPH on a highway where the average vehicle speed is 80 MPH is indeed a traffic hazard, regardless of the posted speed limit. teilo also said, "If they could not drive comfortably at that speed, then they should stay in the right lane." This is what I was responding to when I said "it" was codified as law, and provided a citation. hristov responded by arguing that this doesn't make it legal to go over the posted speed limit: "But nothing in this rule or any other rule gives you a right to drive above the speed limit even if everyone else is driving above the speed limit." And he's right, too. By my reading of that law, it merely says that slower traffic must move as far to the right as possible. I don't think "notwithstanding" in that case means that the drivers can ignore the posted limits, although that's certainly unclear and a point of interpretation.
coderdude 17y ago
>>saying everybody else was speeding is technically not an excuse Actually, it is. You can't get in trouble for traveling the same speed as everyone in your lane. Actual speed of traffic takes precedence over posted speed limit on California freeways.

by hristov 17y ago

thaumaturgy 17y ago

CVC 21654: http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d11/vc21654.htm http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d11/vc21654.htm

simon_ 17y ago
Way to cite primary sources! It enriches these discussions so much when people are willing to do a little digging like this.
hristov 17y ago
I think we are talking about different things. Yes, there is a rule that says that if you are driving slower than other traffic you should go into the right lane. But nothing in this rule or any other rule gives you a right to drive above the speed limit even if everyone else is driving above the speed limit.
- invisible 17y ago
  It actually does say (from my reading) that speed limit shall not be a factor if other traffic is going a similar speed. The very first line, "Notwithstanding the prima facie speed limits..." is where I got this explanation.
  - thaumaturgy 17y ago
    Well, yes and no. Oddly enough, I think everyone is right in this section of the thread so far: teilo said, "the safest speed is the average speed of traffic, regardless of the posted speed limit." This is true; it may not be the legal speed, but a vehicle doing 60 MPH on a highway where the average vehicle speed is 80 MPH is indeed a traffic hazard, regardless of the posted speed limit. teilo also said, "If they could not drive comfortably at that speed, then they should stay in the right lane." This is what I was responding to when I said "it" was codified as law, and provided a citation. hristov responded by arguing that this doesn't make it legal to go over the posted speed limit: "But nothing in this rule or any other rule gives you a right to drive above the speed limit even if everyone else is driving above the speed limit." And he's right, too. By my reading of that law, it merely says that slower traffic must move as far to the right as possible. I don't think "notwithstanding" in that case means that the drivers can ignore the posted limits, although that's certainly unclear and a point of interpretation.

coderdude 17y ago

>>saying everybody else was speeding is technically not an excuse Actually, it is. You can't get in trouble for traveling the same speed as everyone in your lane. Actual speed of traffic takes precedence over posted speed limit on California freeways.