The Basic Speed Law describes speed as:

• A. Never drive faster than is safe for current conditions.
• B. Drive at the posted speed limit regardless of conditions.
• C. Follow the traffic around you at all times.
• D. Slow down only in bad weather.

Answer: (A)

The Basic Speed Law means you must never drive faster than is safe for current conditions. That means your speed should be adjusted for factors like rain or snow, fog or low visibility, wet or uneven pavement, construction zones, darkness, curves, hills, and heavy traffic. The posted speed limit is a maximum for ideal conditions, but it doesn’t guarantee safety in all situations. So you may be traveling below the limit if conditions require it to stay in control and have enough stopping distance.

This is why the other ideas don’t fit: simply driving at the posted limit ignores hazards around you; following the traffic around you isn’t a guaranteed safe approach because the speed of others may not be safe for the specific conditions you face; and slowing down only in bad weather misses the broader need to adjust speed for all conditions, including visibility, road surface, and potential hazards.