California Traffic Law: Two Lane Highways
When driving across the more rural and open areas in California, or even on cross country highways, it’s not uncommon to come across sections of two lane undivided highway. While it can be tempting to gun it down these long open stretches of road, there are some laws specific to these roadways that most people aren’t aware of.
Speed Limits
While there are posted speed limits on a two lane undivided highway, there are some circumstances where following the speed limit isn’t as cut and dry as not going over the posted speed limit. If there is no posted speed limit, the speed limit on California two lane highways is usually 65mph. Some highways allow up to 75mph, and are posted as such. To be on the safe side, always try to hover between 50-60mph if you’re unsure of the speed limit under normal conditions.
Here’s where things get a little more complicated. If you are towing another vehicle or trailer, your maximum speed can not exceed 55mph regardless of the posted speed limit. If there are severe weather conditions such as heavy fog, snow, torrential downpours, and the like, driving anywhere above 20mph under the posted speed limit could land you a ticket for excessive speed in lieu of the weather conditions. So, if you’re driving 45mph in a 55mph zone in the fog, you could get a ticket.
Other Rules of the Road
As one would expect, all of the normal rules of the road apply when driving on two lane highways. Failing to do so will certainly net you a traffic ticket if you’re caught or get in an accident. There are some miscellaneous traffic laws that many people overlook though. Here are a few to keep in mind.
-If a person is looking to pass you and you are driving in the fast lane (usually the left lane), you are required to move to the right lane when it is safe to do so in order to allow the other person to pass. While you must drive slower in heavy traffic or bad weather, if you are intentionally driving slower than the current flow of traffic, you must use the right lane.
-If you are towing any kind of load, be it another vehicle, trailer, or other type of hitch-able load, you are required to drive in the right lane.
-When near animals, you are required to slow down, or even stop when safe to do so if a stray animal is in the roadway.
Also, since it is a two lane undivided highway, always be aware of your surroundings. There is only one way traffic, so if there is any indication someone may be heading in the wrong direction, use extreme caution, and considering pulling off of the road if possible for your safety. When there is light or no traffic, people sometimes tend to speed, even over the posted limit of 75mph. If you need to change lanes, always ensure your blind spot is clear, and that no one is approaching in the other lane at high speeds. In almost all cases, the person changing lanes is the at fault driver, and it may net you a ticket for failing to yield the right of way, along with a potential insurance payout to the other driver for their damages.
If You Get A Ticket
Getting traffic tickets is never a fun experience, and in some cases the ticket may not even be justified. If you feel you have been unjustly ticketed, there are services like TicketBust to help you fight your ticket. While it’s not a surefire guarantee, their services can certainly increase your chances dramatically rather than choosing to fight the ticket on your own.
TicketBust takes advantage of the Defense by Written Declaration clause to help you easily contest your tickets without having to appear in court. This system allows you to submit a written declaration contesting your ticket to be considered by the court, from which the court will either accept the declaration and nullify your ticket, or they will reject your declaration, essentially putting you back where you started.
If you’re looking to fight a ticket using TicketBust, simply gather all of your documents and evidence, namely the ticket in question, and submit them through their application form. They gather the case details from the information on your ticket, and you provide any circumstantial evidence such as road conditions, first hand accounts of what happened, and any additional information the ticket might not take into consideration. Once that’s out of the way, TicketBust will analyze your circumstances and send you defense documents tailored to your situation. Simply download the court documents they send you, print them out, and mail them to the court along with your bail payment.
TicketBust does charge their own fees, as do many other services that fight traffic tickets. TicketBust does offer to refund your fee if you lose your case, as long as there are no excluding circumstances under their terms and conditions. You can visit the TicketBust How it Works Page for more details on how to use their system.
Driving can sometimes be stressful, especially in heavy traffic, bad weather, or people are simply driving recklessly. Always keep your eyes on the road, and stay alert. The first step in avoiding any accident is simply being alert, and ready to anticipate and react to any unexpected event or changes in traffic. The better prepared you are to react to a hazard, the better chance you have of avoiding it. Though, tickets are inevitable. Everyone gets one at some point in their life. If you get a ticket, don’t lose hope. There are services like TicketBust to help fight your tickets easily and with little to no extra financial impact. If you have a ticket you’re looking to fight, the TicketBust submission page can help get you started on fighting it and giving you some peace of mind in the process.