Florida Statute 316.183 - Full Text and Legal Analysis

The 2025 Florida Statutes

Title XXIII
MOTOR VEHICLES

Chapter 316
STATE UNIFORM TRAFFIC CONTROL

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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.

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F.S. 316.183 on CourtListener

Amendments to 316.183

Annotations, Discussions, Cases:

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 (2) Unlawful Speed - SCHOOL ZONE ONLY - CAMERA DEVICE ONLY - 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

Cases Citing Statute 316.183

Total Results: 29

Kominsky v. State

330 So. 2d 800

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Apr 30, 1976 | Docket: 1774574

Cited 18 times | Published

Ct. 2072, 23 L.Ed.2d 656 (1969). [4] Florida Statute 316.183(2)(e).

Menard v. O'MALLEY

327 So. 2d 905

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Feb 10, 1976 | Docket: 162206

Cited 13 times | Published

court's denial of an instruction on Fla. Stat. § 316.183, "Unlawful speed" was not error. We think that

Griefer v. DiPietro

625 So. 2d 1226, 1993 WL 182478

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Sep 8, 1993 | Docket: 474096

Cited 10 times | Published

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

Gulley v. Pierce

625 So. 2d 45, 1993 WL 366882

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Sep 17, 1993 | Docket: 1517571

Cited 9 times | Published

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

Estate of Wallace v. Fisher

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

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Sep 20, 1990 | Docket: 1273308

Cited 9 times | Published

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

Birge v. Charron

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

Supreme Court of Florida | Filed: Nov 21, 2012 | Docket: 60228652

Cited 8 times | Published

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

Sotuyo v. Williams

587 So. 2d 612, 1991 WL 204620

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Oct 10, 1991 | Docket: 1713744

Cited 7 times | Published

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

State v. Joy

637 So. 2d 946, 1994 WL 234521

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: May 31, 1994 | Docket: 1521566

Cited 6 times | Published

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

Seaboard Coastline R. Co. v. Addison

481 So. 2d 3, 10 Fla. L. Weekly 2561

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Nov 15, 1985 | Docket: 548852

Cited 6 times | Published

from the crossing and is an immediate hazard; Section 316.183 requires appropriately reduced speed at railroad

Gonzalez v. Rose

752 So. 2d 39, 2000 WL 121493

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Feb 2, 2000 | Docket: 1392615

Cited 5 times | Published

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

State v. Eady

538 So. 2d 96, 1989 WL 8352

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Feb 7, 1989 | Docket: 472534

Cited 4 times | Published

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

United States v. Block

452 F. Supp. 907, 1978 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 16880

District Court, M.D. Florida | Filed: Jun 29, 1978 | Docket: 2149628

Cited 4 times | Published

Dr. Block was ticketed for violating Fla.Stat. § 316.183, which together with Fla.Stat. § 316.187(1) provides

Craig v. School Bd. of Broward County

679 So. 2d 1219, 1996 WL 483025

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Aug 28, 1996 | Docket: 1215677

Cited 3 times | Published

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

Robinson v. Gerard

611 So. 2d 605, 1993 WL 2972

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Jan 11, 1993 | Docket: 1680599

Cited 3 times | Published

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

Oliver v. Eisenman

523 So. 2d 189, 1988 WL 31691

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Apr 12, 1988 | Docket: 1517256

Cited 2 times | Published

place of the accident proved a violation of section 316.183(1), pertaining to excessive speed, and that

Araj v. Renfro

260 So. 3d 1121

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Nov 30, 2018 | Docket: 64699943

Cited 1 times | Published

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

Agreda v. State

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

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Dec 3, 2014 | Docket: 2610883

Cited 1 times | Published

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

United States v. Leekley

377 F. Supp. 3d 1318

District Court, N.D. Florida | Filed: Apr 29, 2019 | Docket: 64324186

Published

of the posted speed limit, in violation of Section 316.183, Florida Statutes, and Title 32, Code of Federal

Araj v. Renfro

260 So. 3d 1121

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Nov 30, 2018 | Docket: 64699944

Published

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

Ago

Florida Attorney General Reports | Filed: Apr 23, 2009 | Docket: 3256633

Published

sections 316.183 and 316.189, Florida Statutes. Section 316.183, Florida Statutes, addresses unlawful speed

Ago

Florida Attorney General Reports | Filed: Nov 20, 2008 | Docket: 3256980

Published

50 miles per hour or more in violation of section 316.183(2),316.187, or 316.189, it does not, in my

Ago

Florida Attorney General Reports | Filed: Feb 12, 2001 | Docket: 3258259

Published

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

Safety Kleen Corp. v. Ridley

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

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Apr 6, 1995 | Docket: 64761684

Published

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

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

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

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Oct 5, 1994 | Docket: 64751231

Published

Johnson’s speed constituted a violation of section 316.183(1). The evidence established that Johnson was

Hessel v. State

525 So. 2d 512, 13 Fla. L. Weekly 1299, 1988 Fla. App. LEXIS 2204, 1988 WL 53023

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Jun 1, 1988 | Docket: 64634912

Published

petitioner’s traffic conviction of a violation of section 316.183(5), Florida Statutes (1985), because we find

Hessel v. State

525 So. 2d 512, 13 Fla. L. Weekly 1299, 1988 Fla. App. LEXIS 2204, 1988 WL 53023

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Jun 1, 1988 | Docket: 64634912

Published

petitioner’s traffic conviction of a violation of section 316.183(5), Florida Statutes (1985), because we find

Lindsey v. Johnson

415 So. 2d 778, 1982 Fla. App. LEXIS 20152

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: May 28, 1982 | Docket: 64590688

Published

operation or in compliance with the law; (6) that § 316.183(1) provides that no one shall drive at a speed

State v. DuPont

399 So. 2d 438, 1981 Fla. App. LEXIS 20071

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Jun 3, 1981 | Docket: 64583026

Published

entitled “Criminal Offenses”4 and a violation of section 316.183, Florida Statutes (1979) (with which DuPont

Yolman v. State

388 So. 2d 1038, 1980 Fla. LEXIS 4360

Supreme Court of Florida | Filed: Sep 25, 1980 | Docket: 64578310

Published

thirty-five-mile-per-hour zone in violation of section 316.183, Florida Statutes (1977). The validity of this

This Florida statute resource is curated by Graham W. Syfert, Esq., a Jacksonville, Florida personal injury and workers' compensation attorney. Attorney Syfert regularly works with Chapter 316 in the context of traffic and automobile accident law and represents clients throughout Northeast Florida. For legal consultation, call 904-383-7448.