‘Absolute Speed Limits’ – What Every Louisiana Driver Should Know

(KMDL-FM) You see the signs on the roads you drive every day. Most of us pay attention to those signs because, as speed limit signs, they are there for a reason. The reason is to let motorists know what the approved speed is for that stretch of road. But is that an "absolute speed limit" or is it subject to interpretation?

If you talk to 100 different drivers in Louisiana about the speed limits on the roads they drive, they will give you 100 different answers about what they believe the "safe speed" on the roadway should be.

Are There Roads Where The Speed Limit Doesn't Seem to Matter?

A great example of the difference between the posted speed limit and the speed that most motorists feel they can operate a motor vehicle safely is Camellia Boulevard in Lafayette.

The posted speed on that roadway is listed at 35 mph. Okay, I see you laughing. If you drive 35 mph down Camellia Boulevard, there is a really good chance you'll be tailgated at the least and passed by every other car on the road at the most. Even the police don't drive 35 mph on Camellia Boulevard. But is that speed limit an "absolute speed limit"?

What Does Absolute Speed Limit Mean?

The short answer to that query is "yes". In fact, all speed limits posted on Louisiana roadways are "absolute speed limits". That means that any vehicle operated above the posted speed, even if it's just one mile an hour over, is speeding and breaking the law.

So, all those stories you've heard about Louisiana State Troopers not pulling you over for doing five over or seven over are untrue. They can and will light you up for doing one mile over if the evidence presents itself that you are traveling above the posted speed.

Can You Get A Speeding Ticket For Driving Below the Posted Speed Limit?

Officers of any jurisdiction can even write a speeding ticket for motorists traveling below the posted speed if the officer determines the operational speed of the vehicle was too fast for the current road and weather conditions.

Fortunately, most of our members of the law enforcement community fall into the category of "reasonable people". They wish you wouldn't speed, but understand sometimes it's hard to hold an exact rate of speed while you're talking on the telephone.

Okay, just kidding about the phone, but you know you do it. And now you know that every speed limit in Louisiana is "absolute", in other words, you've got no wiggle room. Slow down.