Amended by Stats. 2004, Ch. 300, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2005.
Article 1 - Generally
California Vehicle Code — §§ 22348-22366
Sections (33)
Amended by Stats. 1999, Ch. 724, Sec. 41. Effective January 1, 2000.
Amended by Stats. 1963, Ch. 252.
No person shall drive a vehicle upon a highway at a speed greater than is reasonable or prudent having due regard for weather, visibility, the traffic on, and the surface and width of, the highway, and in no event at a speed which endangers the safety of persons or property.
Enacted by Stats. 1959, Ch. 3.
Added by Stats. 2025, Ch. 555, Sec. 3. (AB 382) Effective January 1, 2026. Repealed as of January 1, 2031, by its own provisions.
Added by Stats. 2002, Ch. 186, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2003.
When conducting an engineering and traffic survey, the City of Norco, in addition to the factors set forth in Section 627, may also consider equestrian safety.
Added by Stats. 2018, Ch. 398, Sec. 1. (AB 2955) Effective January 1, 2019.
The City of Burbank may also consider equestrian safety when conducting an engineering and traffic survey of the public streets within the boundaries of the Rancho Master Plan Area in the City of Burbank, as described in the City of Burbank’s General Plan adopted on February 19, 2013, in addition to the factors set forth in Section 627.
Added by Stats. 2018, Ch. 398, Sec. 2. (AB 2955) Effective January 1, 2019.
The City of Glendale may also consider equestrian safety when conducting an engineering and traffic survey of the public streets within the boundaries of the Horse Overlay Zone, commonly known as the Riverside Rancho Area, in the City of Glendale, as described in Chapter 30.21 of the Glendale Municipal Code, in addition to the factors set forth in Section 627.
Added by Stats. 2018, Ch. 398, Sec. 3. (AB 2955) Effective January 1, 2019.
The City of Los Angeles may also consider equestrian safety when conducting an engineering and traffic survey of the public streets within the boundaries of the Sylmar Community Plan Area and the Sunland-Tujunga-Lake View Terrace-Shadow Hills-East La Tuna Canyon Community Plan Area in the City of Los Angeles, as described in the Sylmar Community Plan adopted on June 10, 2015, and the Sunland-Tujunga-Lake View Terrace-Shadow Hills-East La Tuna Canyon Community Plan Update adopted on November 18, 1997, respectively, in addition to the factors set forth in Section 627.
Added by Stats. 2014, Ch. 282, Sec. 1. (AB 1669) Effective January 1, 2015.
When conducting an engineering and traffic survey of the public streets within the boundaries of the common interest development known as Orange Park Acres, in addition to the factors set forth in Section 627, the County of Orange may also consider equestrian safety.
Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 690, Sec. 4. (AB 43) Effective January 1, 2022.
become operative on the date specified in subdivision (c) of Section 22366.
Added by Stats. 1991, Ch. 219, Sec. 1.
Amended by Stats. 1973, Ch. 78.
Whenever the Department of Transportation determines upon the basis of an engineering and traffic survey that the safe and orderly movement of traffic upon any state highway which is a freeway will be facilitated by the establishment of variable speed limits, the department may erect, regulate, and control signs upon the state highway which is a freeway, or any portion thereof, which signs shall be so designed as to permit display of different speed limits at various times of the day or night. Such signs need not conform to the standards and specifications established by regulations of the Department of Transportation pursuant to Section 21400, but shall be of sufficient size and clarity to give adequate notice of the applicable speed limit. The speed limit upon the freeway at a particular time and place shall be that which is then and there displayed upon such sign.
Repealed (in Sec. 26) and added by Stats. 1995, Ch. 766, Sec. 27. Effective January 1, 1996. This section became operative, by its own provisions, on the date described in Section 22366.
Repealed (in Sec. 28) and added by Stats. 1995, Ch. 766, Sec. 29. Effective January 1, 1996. This section became operative, by its own provisions, on the date described in Section 22366.
Added by Stats. 1989, Ch. 508, Sec. 1.
Notwithstanding Section 22357, a local authority may, by ordinance or resolution, set a prima facie speed limit of 25 miles per hour on any street, other than a state highway, adjacent to any children’s playground in a public park but only during particular hours or days when children are expected to use the facilities. The 25 mile per hour speed limit shall be effective when signs giving notice of the speed limit are posted.
Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 690, Sec. 5. (AB 43) Effective January 1, 2022.
section shall become operative on the date specified in subdivision (c) of Section 22366.
Amended by Stats. 1972, Ch. 1095.
Whenever a local authority determines upon the basis of an engineering and traffic survey that the prima facie speed limit of 25 miles per hour in a business or residence district or in a public park on any street having a roadway not exceeding 25 feet in width, other than a state highway, is more than is reasonable or safe, the local authority may, by ordinance or resolution, determine and declare a prima facie speed limit of 20 or 15 miles per hour, whichever is found most appropriate and is reasonable and safe. The declared prima facie limit shall be effective when appropriate signs giving notice thereof are erected upon the street.
Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 555, Sec. 4. (AB 382) Effective January 1, 2026.
and the appropriate signs are erected upon the highway.
(A) A 15 miles per hour prima facie limit in a residence district, on a highway with a posted speed limit of 30 miles per hour or slower, in a school zone.
(B) A 25 miles per hour prima facie limit on a highway when approaching, at a distance of 500 to 1,000 feet from, a school zone.
conditions:
erected upon the highway and, in the case of a state highway, until the ordinance is approved by the Department of Transportation and the appropriate signs are erected upon the highway.
Added by Stats. 1959, Ch. 11.
It is the intent of the Legislature that physical conditions such as width, curvature, grade and surface conditions, or any other condition readily apparent to a driver, in the absence of other factors, would not require special downward speed zoning, as the basic rule of section 22350 is sufficient regulation as to such conditions.
Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 287, Sec. 2. (AB 1014) Effective January 1, 2026.
five-mile-per-hour increment of the 85th-percentile speed, in compliance with Sections 627 and 22358.5 and the California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, as it read on March 30, 2021, if the reasons for the lower speed limit are documented in an engineering and traffic survey. The Department of Transportation or a local authority may also take into consideration Sections 22353, 22353.2, 22353.3, 22353.4, and 22353.5, if applicable.
any further pursuant to subdivision (b).
Section 22358.8 without further reduction, or restore the immediately prior adopted speed limit as provided in Section 22358.8 without further reduction.
Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 287, Sec. 3. (AB 1014) Effective January 1, 2026.
following reasons:
Department of Transportation shall, in the next revision of the California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, determine what constitutes land or facilities that generate high concentrations of bicyclists and pedestrians, as used in paragraph (2) of subdivision (a). In making this determination, the Department of Transportation shall consider density, road use type, and bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure present on a section of highway.
Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 287, Sec. 4. (AB 1014) Effective January 1, 2026.
section of highway and determined that no additional general purpose lanes have been added to the roadway since completion of the traffic survey that established that speed limit.
section.
Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 287, Sec. 5. (AB 1014) Effective January 1, 2026.
30-mile-per-hour prima facie speed limit immediately prior to and after the business activity district, if establishing a 25-mile-per-hour speed limit.
less than 50 percent of the contiguous property fronting the highway consists of retail or dining commercial uses, including outdoor dining, that open directly onto sidewalks adjacent to the highway.
or the local authority has already lowered the speed limit as permitted under Section 22358.7, has retained the currently adopted speed limit under Section 22358.8, or has restored the immediately prior adopted speed limit under Section 22358.8.
Amended by Stats. 1963, Ch. 209.
With respect to boundary line streets and highways where portions thereof are within different jurisdictions, no ordinance adopted under Sections 22357 and 22358 shall be effective as to any such portion until all authorities having jurisdiction of the portions of the street concerned have approved the same. This section shall not apply in the case of boundary line streets consisting of separate roadways within different jurisdictions.
Repealed (in Sec. 32) and added by Stats. 1995, Ch. 766, Sec. 33. Effective January 1, 1996. This section became operative, by its own provisions, on the date described in Section 22366.
Amended by Stats. 1963, Ch. 209.
On multiple-lane highways with two or more separate roadways different prima facie speed limits may be established for different roadways under any of the procedures specified in Sections 22354 to 22359, inclusive.
Amended by Stats. 1970, Ch. 515.
It is prima facie a violation of the basic speed law for any person to operate a vehicle in excess of the posted speed limit upon any portion of a highway where officers or employees of the agency having jurisdiction of the same, or any contractor of the agency or his employees, are at work on the roadway or within the right-of-way so close thereto as to be endangered by passing traffic. This section applies only when appropriate signs, indicating the limits of the restricted zone, and the speed limit applicable therein, are placed by such agency within 400 feet of each end of such zone. The signs shall display the figures indicating the applicable limit, which shall not be less than 25 miles per hour, and shall indicate the purpose of the speed restriction. Nothing in this section shall be deemed to relieve any operator of a vehicle from complying with the basic speed law.
Amended by Stats. 1974, Ch. 545.
Notwithstanding any speed limit that may be in effect upon the highway, the Department of Transportation in respect to state highways, or a local authority with respect to highways under its jurisdiction, may determine and declare a prima facie speed limit of 40, 35, 30, or 25 miles per hour, whichever is found most appropriate and is reasonable and safe based on the prevailing snow or ice conditions upon such highway or any portion thereof. Signs may be placed and removed as snow or ice conditions vary.
Amended by Stats. 1982, Ch. 681, Sec. 84.
Whenever the Department of Transportation determines, upon the basis of an engineering and traffic survey, that the safe and orderly movement of traffic upon any state highway will be facilitated by the establishment of different speed limits for the various lanes of traffic, the department may place signs upon the state highway, or any portion thereof. The signs shall designate the speed limits for each of the lanes of traffic.
Added by Stats. 1997, Ch. 16, Sec. 1. Effective May 30, 1997.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any county or city, which is contained, in whole or in part, within the South Coast Air Quality Management District, may, if the county or city determines that it is necessary to achieve or maintain state or federal ambient air quality standards for particulate matter, determine and declare by ordinance a prima facie speed limit that is lower than that which the county or city is otherwise permitted by this code to establish, for any unpaved road under the jurisdiction of the county or city and within the district. That declared prima facie speed limit shall be effective when appropriate signs giving notice thereof are erected along the road.
Added by Stats. 1995, Ch. 766, Sec. 34. Effective January 1, 1996.