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What's The Speed Limit?
Safety and common sense should determine your
driving speed, even if it means driving more slowly
than the posted speed limit. Traffic engineers
study streets and intersections to set safe speed
limits that reflect the speeds of prudent motorists.
When determining your driving speed, it is important
to remember the California Vehicle Code (CVC) Basic
Speed Law: No person shall drive a vehicle...at
a speed greater than is reasonable or prudent...and
in no event at a speed which endangers the safety
of persons or property.
How Are Speed Limits Set?
Some speed limits are established by federal
or state law while others are set by local authorities
and posted on the street. Some general guidelines
set by California state law are:
- 65mph (miles per hour) is the maximum speed
in urban areas.
- 25mph is the speed limit in any business district
or residential street.
- 25mph is the speed limit in school zones when
children are present.
- 15mph is the speed limit in alleys, intersections
and railroad crossings (where visibility is limited).
These limits are generally presumed to be reasonable
and may not always be posted on the street.
What About Local Speed Limits?
The CVC allows cities to set specific speed
limits for streets within their boundaries. In
Sacramento, the city has established limits between
25 and 55mph, based on engineering traffic surveys.
In each street's survey, traffic engineers study
these factors:
- Street collision history
- Pedestrian and bicycle traffic
- Amount of traffic typically on the street
- Speed of traffic
- Roadway characteristics (length, width, lanes
and visibility)
- Amount and severity of curves
- Curbside parking practices and number and type
of driveways
- Type of area (residential, commercial, offices,
recreational, etc.)
After considering these factors, traffic engineers
set the speed limit either at or below the speed
driven by 85 percent of vehicles surveyed.
Do Speed Limit Signs Reduce Collisions?
People frequently ask to lower the speed limit
on residential streets to make their streets safer
and more livable. It is a common misconception
that speed limits signs reduce collisions. Studies
indicate that no significant change in average
vehicle speeds has occurred after the posting of
new or revised speed limit signs. In fact, research
shows no direct relationship between posting speed
limits and collision frequency.
How Can Speeding Problems Be Reduced?
An effective way of reducing speeds in residential
neighborhoods is through a radar speed display
board. The Department of Transportation's Traffic
Engineering Services uses a radar device to clock
and exhibit motorist speeds. This oversized display
board, mounted on a small trailer, helps control
chronic speeding problems by letting motorists
know when they are exceeding the limit. For more
information about how to place a radar speed display
board on your street, please call 808-8300.
How Are Speed Limit Signs Funded?
Every year, the Sacramento City Council allocates
funding for road improvements such as speed limit
signs. The cost of installing speed limit signs
is included in the Department of Transportation's
operating budget.
PLEASE DRIVE CAREFULLY!
Public safety is our highest priority, but
we all need to cooperate in keeping our streets
safe for everyone. Annually, the Traffic Engineering
Services Team investigates over 1,200 requests,
suggestions and complaints as quickly as possible.
We value your input and appreciate your patience
and understanding while addressing your concerns
and answering your questions. We are proud to serve
the citizens of Sacramento and help make our city
a safer place to live and work.
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