CVC 22350 is primarily used when driving at the speed limit is unsafe due to whether, traffic or road conditions.

For example, some people still drive 65 MPH on the freeway in heavy fog, insisting they will slow down when they come upon the tail lights of other cars. But if the fog is so heavy that you can’t see more than 20 or 30 feet ahead, at 65 MPH once you see those tail lights you’re going to crash into the car in front of you before you can even hit the brakes. Hence, while driving 65 MPH on the freeway is within the speed limit, it is unsafe for conditions if done in heavy fog.

Similarly, if you rear end someone in normal traffic, you are regarded as traveling at an unsafe speed that did not allow you sufficient time to stop, considering the distance at which you were following the vehicle in front of you.

It takes much longer to stop on wet pavement, so depending on traffic, driving at the speed limit in rain or snow could be driving at an unsafe speed. If a road has a lot of potholes or is in a state of serious disrepair, driving at the posted limit may limit your ability to properly control your vehicle and be unsafe.

The list can go on and on.