When does a speed limit become become effective, before or after the sign?

Q: Bob Calnan of Menifee asked where or when, exactly, the advertised speed limit becomes effective. Is it when a driver first sees the speed limit sign, or after some distance, after the driver has passed the speed limit sign?

A: This is a great question, and it’s not clearly spelled out in the California Vehicle Code (like so many other issues). California Highway Patrol Officer Dan Olivas of the Inland Division said he searched the CVC for an answer but didn’t come across anything in the vehicle code which states exactly where the speed limit starts. In researching this question, however, Olivas did find a California Department of Transportation document which refers to placing speed limit signs at the start of the designated speed zone, which alludes to the speed limit zone starting where the sign is placed.

“The only thing I did see in the Vehicle Code was in 22358.4 (B), which states that the 25 mph speed limit in a school zone begins 500 to 1,000 feet from a school building with a few different factors that come into play, which are too numerous to mention. But in general, I would deduct that the speed zone begins at the sign. Unfortunately, again, I did not find anything that states that specifically,” he said.

Olivas added a clarification: “I think it is saying at the location where the sign is posted (once you reach the sign), however, if the speed is lowering from the location you are coming from, you could use the distance from when you see the sign to when you reach it to adjust your speed to the upcoming speed zone.”

When it comes to driving and safety, the old cliché that “it’s better to be safe than sorry” pretty much always applies, and this would be an instance where it would also. It’s best to be driving at or below the speed limit stated on the posted sign, at the point you reach the sign, if possible.

Q: Diane Braga lives in Rancho Cucamonga and takes her cell phone along when she travels. She asked if she travels to another state and needs to call 911 for help while she is out of state, who receives the call? “Will the 911 center be from Rancho Cucamonga or routed to the nearest 911 center of my location?” Braga also asked if she moves to another state and keeps her current cell phone number from Rancho Cucamonga, and needs to call 911 for help, who would receive that 911 call: first responders in Rancho Cucamonga or a 911 center near her new home.

A: When you are out of state, your assigned area code does not come into play when calling 911, said Olivas: The 911 call will be sent to the closest cell phone tower and directed to the nearest dispatch center, where local first responders will reply.

More crosswalk details

Finally, Kathy Crebar of Wildomar wanted to expand on our previous discussion about whether a pedestrian crossing the street must be completely across before a waiting driver can proceed. Crebar suggested part of the confusion is because the written test administered by the DMV includes a confusing question in which the correct answer indicates that a pedestrian in a crosswalk has the right of way until they are all the way across. In addition, we observed that the language in the 2020 California Driver Handbook on this issue is confusing as well. The handbook states, “Do not pass a vehicle stopped at a crosswalk. A pedestrian you cannot see may be crossing the street. Stop and proceed when all pedestrians have crossed the street.” It’s this last sentence, which is confusing.

California Vehicle Code section 21950 does not say the pedestrian has to have crossed the entire street. The law says that if the pedestrian is a safe distance away from the waiting vehicle, it may proceed. Drivers can go when they are a safe distance from the pedestrian, and pedestrians also have a duty to act in a safe manner. On the Road has shared these discrepancies with the DMV, which appreciates the feedback.

“As a matter of fact, we’re working on updating the Driver Handbook to simplify the language. Hopefully that should clear up some of the confusion around topics like this in the future,” said Spokeswoman Ivette Burch in an email.

Do you commute to work in the Inland Empire? Sped a lot of time in your vehicle? Have questions about driving, freeways, toll roads or parking? If so, write or call On the Road and we’ll try to answer your questions. Please include your question or issue, name, city of residence, phone number and email address. Write ontheroad@pe.com or call 951-368-9670.

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