You are driving on a freeway with a posted speed limit of 65 mph. Traffic is heavy and moving at 35 mph. The best speed for your vehicle is most likely:
- 25 mph.
- 35 mph. ✓
- 30 mph.
Answer: B. 35 mph.
The best speed is most likely 35 mph, matching the pace of the heavy traffic.
Why this is the answer
The California Driver Handbook explains the Basic Speed Law: you may never drive faster than is safe for current conditions, and the posted limit is not the only factor. Your speed should depend on how many vehicles are on the road, the speed of other vehicles, and traffic congestion. On a 65 mph freeway where heavy traffic is moving at 35 mph, the surrounding traffic speed is the best guide. Driving with that flow fits the handbook's instruction to manage speed for conditions.
Why the other answers are wrong
- A. 25 mph. — Driving 25 mph would be well below the surrounding traffic flow and does not match the conditions described.
- C. 30 mph. — Driving 30 mph is still slower than the traffic around you, so it does not fit the guidance to consider the speed of other vehicles.
Remember it
Match the pace, not the sign.
Official handbook: California Driver Handbook (DL 600), Section 8: Safe Driving, p. 67