You must not drive your vehicle at a speed greater than:
- The maximum speed limit.
- A speed that is faster than is reasonable and prudent.
- A speed that is safe for existing conditions.
- All of the above. ✓
Answer: D. All of the above.
All of the above: you must not exceed the maximum speed limit, drive faster than is reasonable and prudent, or drive faster than is safe for existing conditions.
Why this is the answer
The manual says you must obey the speed limit, and it also says the posted limit may not be the safe speed. On slippery or foggy roads, driving below the posted limit can still be too fast if conditions are bad, and an officer can ticket you for a speed that is not reasonable. So the rule has three parts: the maximum limit, reasonable and prudent speed, and safety for current conditions.
Why the other answers are wrong
- A. The maximum speed limit. — The maximum speed limit is one limit you must respect, but it is not the only speed rule the manual describes.
- B. A speed that is faster than is reasonable and prudent. — Driving faster than is reasonable and prudent is forbidden, but that rule by itself does not include the posted maximum limit.
- C. A speed that is safe for existing conditions. — A speed safe for existing conditions is required, but that alone does not include the maximum speed limit.
Remember it
Check speed three ways: the posted limit, whether it is reasonable, and whether conditions make it safe.
Official handbook: New York State Driver's Manual (MV-21), Chapter 8: Defensive Driving – Speed