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Speed Limits and Control
- 1/11If you are driving under ideal road and weather conditions
You must adjust your speed based on weather, traffic, and road conditions. Posted limits are not always safe in rain, fog, or heavy traffic even if legal.
When driving in a school zone
Alabama school zones require drivers to slow down to 15 MPH for children safety. This helps reduce injury risk and allows time to react to unexpected movements.
If you are driving in municipal, business, or residential areas
These areas have frequent stops, crosswalks, and pedestrian activity. A 25 MPH speed helps drivers maintain control and react safely to potential hazards.
When driving on streets and highways without special signage
Drivers should know that 55 MPH is the default for most roads in Alabama unless signs indicate otherwise. Adjust this speed for traffic or road conditions.
Driving too slowly is illegal if it blocks or delays normal traffic flow
You must not drive so slowly that you obstruct safe, normal-speed traffic. Keep right and let faster vehicles pass if youre moving slower than others.
When driving slower than other vehicles
This allows other vehicles to pass safely on the left, reducing congestion and improving highway safety.
You must obey posted speed limits and cannot rely on a “speeding buffer”
There is no allowance for going 5–10 MPH over the speed limit. Even small amounts over the limit can result in tickets and increased crash risk.
Obeying the speed limit lowers the chance and severity of crashes
Driving within the limit gives you more time to react and reduces impact force, helping protect you and others on the road.
If driving at a speed that maintains full control
The right speed isnt always the posted one. On wet, icy, or crowded roads, a slower speed helps avoid losing control or causing a crash.
Drivers are responsible for knowing and following Alabama speed limits
Even if no speed limit is posted, you are expected to know general speed rules. Not knowing is not a valid excuse for speeding violations.
When road, weather, or visibility conditions change
Even if youre under the limit, driving too fast for rain, fog, or debris-covered roads is dangerous and could be illegal.