Similar research the 25 MPH speed limit in business SPEED LIMITS has found no and residential districts and the 25 GENERAL direct MPH in school zones when children relationship are present. (Residence district between posted speed limits do not need to be speed limits and posted to be enforceable.) The following information is intended crash frequency. to explain the basics of speed limits, Local authorities have authority to summarize the applicable laws, and CALIFORNIA establish reduced speed limits on the provide a brief outline of how and SPEED LAW basis of engineering and traffic why speed limits are determined. surveys (CVC 22358). Such surveys

Traffic rules account for most of the must include an analysis of roadway contact by average citizens with law The primary legal conditions, accident records, and a enforcement and the courts. justification for Vehicle Code sampling of the prevailing speed of enforcement in California is the traffic (CVC 627). Other factors may California Vehicle Code (CVC). SPEED LIMIT MISCONCEPTIONS be considered, but an unreasonable speed limit, which is called a speed

All states base their speed trap, may not be established (CVC Four widely held misconceptions regulations on the Basic Speed 40802). about speed limits are: Law: “No person shall drive a vehicle 1. Speed-limit signs will slow down at a speed greater than is reason- The State Legislature has declared a traffic; able or prudent having due regard strong public policy against the use for weather, visibility, the traffic on, of speed traps, to the extent that 2. Speed-limit signs will decrease and the surface and width of, the citations issued where a speed trap accidents and increase safety; highway, and in no event at a speed is found to exist are likely be which endangers the safety of dismissed, particularly if radar 3. Raising a posted speed limit will persons or property” (CVC 22350). enforcement methods are used increase the speed of traffic; and (CVC 40803 – 40805). State law also establishes maximum 4. Lowering a posted speed limit will speed limits. For example, the maxi- A provision of the Vehicle Code that automatically decrease the speed mum speed on an undivided two- California courts have generally of traffic. lane roadway is 55 MPH (CVC considered very strongly reads “It is 22349b). the intent of the Legislature that However, several studies have physical conditions such as width, consistently shown that there are no All other speed limits are called curvature, grade and surface condi- significant changes in average prima facie limits, which are tions, or any other condition not vehicle speeds following the posting considered by law to be safe and readily apparent to a driver, in the of new or revised speed limits. prudent under normal conditions. absence of other factors, would not Certain prima facie limits are require special downward speed established by State law and include zoning as the basic rule of section 22350 is sufficient regulation as to contiguous property fronting thereon SPEED LIMITS such conditions” (CVC 22358.5). The is occupied by 13 or more separate words, “It is the intent of the Legisla- dwelling houses or business ture,” are intended to get the structures, or attention of traffic engineers and local jurisdictions in setting and (b) both sides of which highway, maintaining local speed limits. Such collectively, within a distance of a speed limits must be set carefully, as quarter of a mile, the contiguous justified by appropriate factors, to property fronting thereon is occupied avoid making such limits by 16 or more separate-dwelling unenforceable. houses or business structures. A In practice, speed limits are normally residence district may be longer than set at the first five-mile-per-hour one-quarter of a mile if the above increment near the 85 percentile ratio of separate-dwelling houses or speed, defined as that speed at or business structures to the length of below which 85 percent of the traffic the highway exists. is moving. Further reduction must be documented and clearly justified by VEHICLE CODE ENFORCEMENT an Engineering and Traffic Survey.

The California Highway Patrol (CHP) RESIDENTIAL AREAS is responsible for enforcing traffic laws on roads in the unincorporated The most common concerns about area. If you have a question about speeding generally originate from enforcement of speed limits, please residential areas. Twenty-five MPH contact the CHP Dispatcher at: speed-limit signs may be posted on (805) 477- 4100. residential streets without conducting Rev.11/20/14 Public Works Agency a speed survey, if the street or segment of street being considered Transportation Department 800 S. Victoria Avenue (CVC 515) meets the following: A "residence district" is that portion Ventura CA 93009-1620 of a highway and the property contiguous thereto, other than a business district upon

(a) one side of which highway, within a distance of a quarter of a mile, the