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47-11-801.


§47-11-801.


    A.  Any person driving a vehicle on a highway shall drive the
same at a careful and prudent speed not greater than nor less than is
reasonable and proper, having due regard to the traffic, surface and
width of the highway and any other conditions then existing, and no
person shall drive any vehicle upon a highway at a speed greater than
will permit the driver to bring it to a stop within the assured clear
distance ahead.
    B.  Except when a special hazard exists that requires lower speed
for compliance with subsection A of this section, the limits
specified in this act or established as hereinafter authorized shall
be maximum lawful speeds, and no person shall drive a vehicle on a
highway at a speed in excess of such maximum limits:
    1.  Seventy-five (75) miles per hour in locations comprising:
         a.   the turnpike system, and
         b.   rural segments of the interstate highway system, as may
              be designated by the Transportation Commission.
              Provided, however, the Commission shall determine prior
              to the designation of such segments that the public
              safety will not be jeopardized;
    2.  Seventy (70) miles per hour in locations which are:
         a.   four-lane divided highways including, but not limited
              to, the interstate highway system, and
         b.   super two-lane highways.  As used in this section, a
              super two-lane highway shall mean any two-lane highway
              with designated passing lanes, and consisting of paved
              shoulders not less than eight (8) feet in width.
    3.  Sixty-five (65) miles per hour in other locations;
    4.  No person shall drive a school bus at a speed greater than a
maximum of fifty (50) miles per hour except on turnpikes and
interstate highways where the maximum shall be sixty-five (65) miles
per hour;
    5.  On any highway outside of a municipality, the speed limit in
a properly marked school zone shall be a maximum of twenty-five (25)
miles per hour, provided the zone is marked with appropriate warning
signs placed in accordance with the latest edition of the Manual on
Uniform Traffic Control Devices.  The Department of Transportation
shall mark such school zones, or entrances and exits onto highways by
buses or students, so that the maximum speed provided by this section
shall be established therein.  Exits and entrances to
controlled-access highways which are within such school zones shall
be marked in the same manner as other highways.  The county
commissioners shall mark such school zones along the county roads so
that the maximum speed provided by this section shall be established
therein.  Said signs may be either permanent or temporary.  The
Department of Transportation shall give priority over all other
signing projects to the foregoing duty to mark school zones.  The
Department shall also provide other safety devices for school zones
which are needed in the opinion of the Department;
    6.  No person shall drive any vehicle at a greater maximum speed
than twenty-five (25) miles per hour through state schools located on
the state-owned land adjoining or outside the limits of a corporate
city or town where a state educational institution is established;
    7.  No person shall drive any vehicle on a highway in any state
park or wildlife refuge at a rate of speed in excess of thirty-five
(35) miles per hour.  Provided, however, that the provisions of this
section shall not include the State Capitol park area, and no person
shall drive any vehicle at a rate of speed in excess of forty-five
(45) miles per hour on any state or federal designated highway within
such areas; and
    8.  No person shall drive any vehicle or combination of vehicles
with solid rubber or metal tires at a speed greater than the maximum
of ten (10) miles per hour.
    The maximum speed limits set forth in this act may be altered as
authorized in Sections 11-802 and 11-803 of this title.
    C.  The Transportation Commission is hereby authorized to
prescribe maximum and minimum speeds for all vehicles and any
combinations of vehicles using controlled-access highways.  Such
regulations shall become effective after signs have been posted on
these highways giving notice thereof.  Such regulations may apply to
an entirely controlled-access highway or to selected sections thereof
as may be designated by the Transportation Commission.  It shall be a
violation of this section to drive any vehicle at a faster rate of
speed than such prescribed maximum or at a slower rate of speed than
such prescribed minimum.  However, all vehicles shall at all times
conform to subsection A of this section.
    Copies of such regulations certified as in effect on any
particular date by the Secretary of the Transportation Commission
shall be accepted as evidence in any court in this state.  Whenever
changes have been made in speed zones, copies of such regulations
shall be filed with the State Commissioner of Public Safety.
    D.  The driver of every vehicle shall, consistent with the
requirements of subsection A of this section, drive at an appropriate
reduced speed when approaching and crossing an intersection or
railway grade crossing, when approaching and going around a curve,
when approaching a hillcrest, when driving upon any narrow or winding
roadway, and when special hazard exists with respect to pedestrians
or other traffic, or by reason of weather or highway conditions.
    E.  1.  No person shall drive a vehicle on a county road at a
speed in excess of fifty-five (55) miles per hour unless posted
otherwise by the board of county commissioners, as provided in
subparagraphs a through c of this paragraph, as follows:
         a.   the board of county commissioners may determine, by
              resolution, a maximum speed limit which shall apply to
              all county roads which are not otherwise posted for
              speed,
         b.   the board of county commissioners shall provide public
              notice of the speed limit on all nonposted roads by
              publication in a newspaper of general circulation in
              the county.  The notice shall be published once weekly
              for a period of four (4) continuous weeks, and
         c.   the board of county commissioners shall forward the
              resolution to the Director of the Department of
              Transportation and to the Commissioner of Public
              Safety.
    2.  The Department of Transportation shall post speed limit
information, as determined pursuant to the provisions of
subparagraphs a through c of paragraph 1 of this subsection, on the
county line marker where any state highway enters a county and at all
off-ramps where interstate highways or turnpikes enter a county.  The
signs read as follows:
                      ENTERING ________ COUNTY
                       COUNTY ROAD SPEED LIMIT
                              ____ MPH
                       UNLESS POSTED OTHERWISE
    The appropriate board of county commissioners shall reimburse the
Department of Transportation the full cost of the signage required
herein.



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