Speed Limit Sign

Updated July 9, 2026

Speed Limit · MUTCD R2-1 · Regulatory sign

What the Speed Limit sign means

This white vertical rectangle with black numbers shows the maximum legal speed in ideal conditions. Driving faster is illegal, and the posted number is a ceiling, not a target. In rain, fog, heavy traffic, or at night you must slow below it under California’s Basic Speed Law, which requires a speed that is safe for current conditions. Speed limit signs mark the start of a new zone and are repeated after major intersections. Unless otherwise posted, California’s limit is 25 mph in residential and business districts and 65 mph on most freeways.

What to do when you see it

Never exceed the posted number, and slow further when rain, fog, or traffic make that speed unsafe.

On the CA permit test

The posted limit is the maximum for ideal conditions — the Basic Speed Law can require you to go slower.

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