(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. The following speed limits apply:
(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 one hundred twenty-five feet along such street or highway from the school grounds and, in the case of school property not abutting a street or highway but accessed through a right-of-way granted for entrance to school property, a school zone established by an engineering study conducted by the Division of Highways is all school property, including school grounds and any property within the access right-of-way, and extending one hundred twenty-five feet along the street or highway from the entrance to the access right-of-way. The 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 milers per hour in any business or residence district, except Grand Central Avenue (W.Va. Route 14).
(3) Fifty-five miles per hour on open country highways, except as otherwise provided by this Traffic Code, except Grand Central Avenue (W.Va. Route 14).
(4) Thirty-five miles per hour on 46th Street east from Grand Central Avenue (W.Va. Route 14) to corporate limits.
The speeds set forth in this section may be altered as authorized in West Virginia Code Article 17C-6.
(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) Notwithstanding the speed regulations set forth in subsection (b)(2) and (3) hereof and not withstanding the provisions of Section 335.03, any speed on Grand Central Avenue (W.Va. Route 14) in excess of the limits hereinafter specified shall be unlawful.
(1) Forty miles per hour from the Vienna south corporation line (State Highway Milepost 16.39) and running north to 19th Street (State Highway Milepost 17.84)
(2) Thirty-five miles per hour from 19th Street (State Highway Milepost 17.84) and running north to a point 300 feet north of 42nd Street (State Highway Milepost 18.99).
(3) Forty-five miles per hour from a point 300 feet north of 42nd Street (State Highway Milepost 18.99) and running north to the Vienna north corporation line (State Highway Milepost 19.94). (11-14-74)