Under less than favorable conditions the maximum permissible speed is the posted speed limit; if necessary to travel in the center or oncoming lanes, the max permissible speed shall be -

• A. 60 mph
• B. 40 mph
• C. Posted speed limit
• D. 20 mph

Answer: (C)

The key idea is that the posted speed limit sets the legal maximum you may drive, regardless of road conditions. Even if you have to use the center or oncoming lanes to maneuver around a hazard, you still cannot exceed the posted limit. The posted speed limit is the cap defined by law, and speeds like particular fixed numbers aren’t universal maxima—the limit on a given stretch of road could be higher or lower than those values, and you must not go faster than what the sign allows. In practice, you can and should drive at or below that posted limit, adjusting for safety as conditions warrant.