Florida Statute 316.183 | Lawyer Caselaw & Research

The 2024 Florida Statutes

Title XXIII
MOTOR VEHICLES

Chapter 316
STATE UNIFORM TRAFFIC CONTROL

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F.S. 316.183

316.183 Unlawful speed.—

(1) No person shall drive a vehicle on a highway at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the conditions and having regard to the actual and potential hazards then existing. In every event, speed shall be controlled as may be necessary to avoid colliding with any person, vehicle, or other conveyance or object on or entering the highway in compliance with legal requirements and the duty of all persons to use due care.

(2) On all streets or highways, the maximum speed limits for all vehicles must be 30 miles per hour in business or residence districts, and 55 miles per hour at any time at all other locations. However, with respect to a residence district, a county or municipality may set a maximum speed limit of 20 or 25 miles per hour on local streets and highways after an investigation determines that such a limit is reasonable. It is not necessary to conduct a separate investigation for each residence district. The minimum speed limit on all highways that comprise a part of the National System of Interstate and Defense Highways and have not fewer than four lanes is 40 miles per hour, except that when the posted speed limit is 70 miles per hour, the minimum speed limit is 50 miles per hour.

(3) A school bus may not exceed the posted speed limits at any time.

(4) The driver of every vehicle shall, consistent with the requirements of subsection (1), drive at an appropriately reduced speed when:

(a) Approaching and crossing an intersection or railway grade crossing;

(b) Approaching and going around a curve;

(d) Traveling upon any narrow or winding roadway; and

(e) Any special hazard exists with respect to pedestrians or other traffic or by reason of weather or highway conditions.

(5) No person shall drive a motor vehicle at such a slow speed as to impede or block the normal and reasonable movement of traffic, except when reduced speed is necessary for safe operation or in compliance with law.

(6) No driver of a vehicle shall exceed the posted maximum speed limit in a work zone area.

(7) A violation of this section is a noncriminal traffic infraction, punishable as a moving violation as provided in chapter 318.

History.—s. 1, ch. 71-135; s. 1, ch. 76-159; s. 3, ch. 76-218; s. 3, ch. 76-286; s. 1, ch. 77-174; s. 6, ch. 87-161; s. 2, ch. 88-47; s. 5, ch. 88-91; s. 4, ch. 88-93; s. 21, ch. 90-227; s. 17, ch. 94-306; s. 20, ch. 96-350; s. 135, ch. 99-248; s. 32, ch. 2005-164; s. 5, ch. 2012-181.

F.S. 316.183 on Google Scholar

F.S. 316.183 on Casetext

Amendments to 316.183

Arrestable Offenses / Crimes under Fla. Stat. 316.183

Level: Degree
Misdemeanor/Felony: First/Second/Third

Current data shows no reason an arrest or criminal charge should have occurred directly under Florida Statute 316.183.

Civil Citations / Citable Offenses under S316.183

R or S next to points is Mandatory Revocation or Suspension

S316.183 (1) FAILED to use due care - Points on Drivers License: 3

S316.183 (1) TOO fast for conditions - Points on Drivers License: 3

S316.183 (2) Unlawful Speed (requires speeds)-Exceeding speed limit - Points on Drivers License: 3

S316.183 (2) Unlawful Speed (if no speeds are indicated on citation)-Exceeding speed limit - Points on Drivers License: 3

S316.183 (2) Unlawful Speed - LESS than posted minimum - Points on Drivers License: 3

S316.183 (3) Unlawful Speed - School bus (requires speeds) - Points on Drivers License: 3

S316.183 (3) Unlawful Speed - School bus (if no speeds are indicated on the citation) - Points on Drivers License: 3

S316.183 (4) TOO fast for conditions - Points on Drivers License: 3

S316.183 (4)(a) Speed too fast for conditions R/R/intersection - Points on Drivers License: 3

S316.183 (4)(b) Speed too fast for conditions on curve - Points on Drivers License: 3

S316.183 (4)(c) Speed too fast for conditions approaching hill - Points on Drivers License: 3

S316.183 (4)(d) Speed too fast for conditions narrow/winding road - Points on Drivers License: 3

S316.183 (4)(e) Speed too fast for conditions special hazard - Points on Drivers License: 3

S316.183 (5) Impeding traffic - Points on Drivers License: 3

S316.183 (6) Exceeding posted speed in a work-zone Note 6 - Points on Drivers License: 3

Annotations, Discussions, Cases:

Cases Citing Statute 316.183

Total Results: 20

Araj v. Renfro

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 2018-11-30

Citation: 260 So. 3d 1121

Snippet: instruction requested by Jones based on section 316.183(5): No person shall drive a motor vehicle at such

Araj v. Renfro

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 2018-11-30

Citation: 260 So. 3d 1121

Snippet: instruction requested by Jones based on section 316.183(5): No person shall drive a motor vehicle at such

Agreda v. State

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 2014-12-03

Citation: 152 So. 3d 114, 2014 Fla. App. LEXIS 19703, 2014 WL 6778291

Snippet: highway was 40 miles per hour. See § 316.183(2). Thus, at 45 miles per hour, the subject vehicle

Birge v. Charron

Court: Supreme Court of Florida | Date Filed: 2012-11-21

Citation: 107 So. 3d 350, 37 Fla. L. Weekly Supp. 735, 2012 WL 5869641, 2012 Fla. LEXIS 2415

Snippet: within the foreseeable zone of danger. See, e.g., § 316.183(5), Fla. Stat. (2012) (State Uniform Traffic Control

Ago

Court: Florida Attorney General Reports | Date Filed: 2009-04-23

Snippet: including speed limits prescribed in sections 316.183 and 316.189, Florida Statutes, on private roads

Ago

Court: Florida Attorney General Reports | Date Filed: 2008-11-20

Snippet: of 50 miles per hour or more in violation of s. 316.183(2), s. 316.187, or s. 316.189 shall be cited for

Ago

Court: Florida Attorney General Reports | Date Filed: 2001-02-12

Snippet: within the provisions of Chapter 316.8 Section 316.183(2), Florida Statutes, provides: "On all streets

Gonzalez v. Rose

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 2000-02-02

Citation: 752 So. 2d 39, 2000 WL 121493

Snippet: immediate hazard. Under Florida Statutes section 316.183(1), no person shall drive a vehicle on a street

Ago

Court: Florida Attorney General Reports | Date Filed: 1998-10-08

Snippet: must fail when conflict arises). 3 And see, s. 316.183(2), Fla. Stat., containing similar language: "On

Craig v. School Bd. of Broward County

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 1996-08-28

Citation: 679 So. 2d 1219, 1996 WL 483025

Snippet: erred in refusing to instruct the jury on section 316.183(2) & (3), Florida Statutes (Supp.1990), in conjunction

Safety Kleen Corp. v. Ridley

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 1995-04-06

Citation: 666 So. 2d 913, 1995 Fla. App. LEXIS 3500, 1995 WL 147286

Snippet: Instruction 4.11 in reference to violations of section 316.183, Unlawful Speed, and section 316.185, Special Hazards

Yellow Cab Co. of Tampa, Inc. v. Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 1994-10-05

Citation: 643 So. 2d 78, 1994 Fla. App. LEXIS 9486, 1994 WL 534770

Snippet: of Florida Statute Sections 316.183(1), concerning unlawful speed, 316.183(4), pertaining to special hazards

State v. Joy

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 1994-05-31

Citation: 637 So. 2d 946, 1994 WL 234521

Snippet: at an unlawful speed is a violation of section 316.183, Florida Statutes (1991). Thus, when Officer Diaz

Gulley v. Pierce

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 1993-09-17

Citation: 625 So. 2d 45, 1993 WL 366882

Snippet: where traffic lights are inoperative; (2) Section 316.183, Florida Statutes (Supp. 1990), regarding unlawful

Griefer v. DiPietro

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 1993-09-08

Citation: 625 So. 2d 1226, 1993 WL 182478

Snippet: instruction on unlawful speed based on section 316.183, Florida Statutes (1989). That statute states:

Robinson v. Gerard

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 1993-01-11

Citation: 611 So. 2d 605, 1993 WL 2972

Snippet: person was negligent. * * * * * * Florida Statute § 316.183 UNLAWFUL SPEED states: "No person shall drive a

Ago

Court: Florida Attorney General Reports | Date Filed: 1992-12-23

Snippet: Department of Transportation. In addition, s. 316.183(2), F.S. 1987, stated that "[o]n all streets or

Sotuyo v. Williams

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 1991-10-10

Citation: 587 So. 2d 612, 1991 WL 204620

Snippet: Uniform Traffic Control Law, specifically section 316.183(1), Florida Statutes, relating to unlawful speed

Estate of Wallace v. Fisher

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 1990-09-20

Citation: 567 So. 2d 505, 1990 Fla. App. LEXIS 7125, 1990 WL 134773

Snippet: nominal plaintiff Linda violated either section 316.183 (unlawful speed) or section 316.1925 (careless

State v. Eady

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 1989-02-07

Citation: 538 So. 2d 96, 1989 WL 8352

Snippet: was thus guilty of a violation of the law. See § 316.183(1), Fla. Stat. (1987) ("No person shall drive a