When Can You Legally Drive the Speed Limit when the Speed Increases in WA?
This is one of those situations where we have a few of these signs around the Yakima Valley.
On both sides are the most popular spots.
Both heading towards Tri-Cities and heading towards Ellensburg out of Yakima we have it where the speed limit goes from 60 mph to 70 mph.
Before we talk about laws or something legal like that, what do you do?
When you see the speed limit sign, do you rev up so you're going that speed right when you pass the sign? Like what you may do on a ramp getting onto the freeway?
Or do you maintain your speed until you get to the sign, then start speeding up to that speed limit?
Here's what I do more often than not.
I keep going the slower speed for a few miles until I wonder why everyone keeps passing me on the freeway until I remember 'oh yeah, I can go faster than I'm currently going.' Hey, at least I stay in the slow lane when I do.
I see all situations often enough but according to those pesky laws we have, that's the posted speed limit where that sign is where it's okay to go that speed, not before.
If you're going faster so you're already driving 70 mph when you pass that sign, you're speeding.
Well, to be fair, you were speeding. Now that you're going the speed limit, you're doing fine, but if an officer tags you for going too fast before that sign (which I've seen, personally) you can get a speeding ticket.
Something to keep in mind.
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