(a) No person may drive a vehicle on a street or highway at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the existing conditions and the actual and potential hazards. In every event speed shall be so controlled as may be necessary to avoid colliding with any person, vehicle or other conveyance on or entering the streets and highways in compliance with legal requirements and the duty of all persons to use due care.
(b) Where no special hazard exists that requires lower speed for compliance with subsection (a) of this section the speed of any vehicle not in excess of the limits specified in this section or established as hereinafter authorized is lawful, but any speed in excess of the limits specified below in this subsection or established as hereinafter authorized is unlawful.
(1) Fifteen miles per hour in a school zone during school recess or while children are going to or leaving school during opening or closing hours. A school zone is all school property including school grounds and any street or highway abutting such school grounds and extending 125 feet along such street or highway from the school grounds. Such speed restriction does not apply to vehicles traveling on a controlled-access highway which is separated from the school or school grounds by a fence or barrier approved by the Division of Highways;
(2) Twenty-five miles per hour in any business or residence district;
(3) Fifty-five miles per hour on open country highways; except as otherwise provided by this article;
(4) Fifteen miles per hour when passing a Municipal swimming pool or the grounds thereof during the hours when such facilities are open;
(5) Ten miles per hour on all public alleys, when not otherwise sign-posted;
(6) When encountering school buses while standing or loading or unloading, traffic shall come to a full stop;
(7) When emerging from an alley, driveway, parking lot, garage, building or place of business, traffic must come to a full stop;
(8) On all streets and roadways for which a maximum speed is prescribed on official traffic control signs, the speed shall be as specified on such signs. Unless specifically set by ordinance, the director of public works director has authority, upon the approval of city council, to designate the maximum speed for specific city streets or portions of streets and to update official traffic control signs accordingly.
The speeds set forth in this section may be altered as authorized in West Virginia Code 17C-6-1 et seq.
(c) The driver of every vehicle shall, consistent with the requirements of subsection (a) of this section, drive at an appropriate reduced speed when approaching and crossing an intersection or railway grade crossing, when approaching and going around a curve, when approaching a hill crest, when traveling upon any narrow or winding roadway and when special hazard exists with respect to pedestrians or other traffic or by reason of weather or highway conditions.
(d) The speed limit on controlled-access highways and interstate highways, where no special hazard exists that requires a lower speed, shall be not less than fifty-five miles per hour and the speed limits specified in subsection (b) of this section do not apply.
(W. Va. Code 17C-6-1; Ord. 2023-02. Passed 5-2-23.)