Is it OK in SC to drive less than 10 mph over the speed limit to keep up with traffic?
Yeah, but everyone else was doing it is not a good response to being pulled over by law enforcement officers, even if you’re going less than 10 miles per hour over the posted speed limit.
That seems to be an enduring belief among South Carolina drivers — that if you’re going less than 10 mph over the limit officers will not pull you over. Especially if you’re going with the flow of traffic.
Not so, according to Section 56-5-1520 of the SC Code of Laws.
Not only abide by the posted limit but also no speed greater “than is reasonable and prudent under the conditions.”
The law also says this: “Speed must be so controlled to avoid colliding with person or vehicle.”
OK.
What are the limits in SC?
The law says, “Except when a special hazard exists that requires lower speed for compliance with subsection (A), the limits specified in this section or established as hereinafter authorized are maximum lawful speeds, and a person shall not drive a vehicle on a highway at a speed in excess of these maximum limits.”
The limits are:
70 mph — Interstates where posted
60 mph — Multi-lane divided, primary highways where posted
55 mph — In other locations
55 mph — Maximum for manufactured homes (10 below max posted speed)
40 mph — On unpaved roads
30 mph — In urban districts
What are the fines?
If you are unlucky and pass an officer going faster than these limits, here are the fines you face
Up to 10 mph: $15-$25
11-15 mph: $25-$50
16-25 mph: $50-$75
Above 25 mph: $75-$200 or imprisoned for no more than 30 days.
Does speeding to pass other drivers even help that much?
AAA says most of the time speeding reduces your drive by minutes, if not seconds.
They did the math.
“Consider a typical 15-mile commute, a distance many Americans travel one way for work. If the speed limit is 35 mph and you decide to drive 45 mph, you might save around six minutes. While that might feel like a win, the savings become even smaller when you consider several factors.”
HiRoad.com says, “Are those six minutes worth it? It’s time to think about the dangers of speeding and the consequences of reckless behavior behind the wheel.”
The U.S. Army studied whether speeding saves time and created a chart to show the time saved. The study showed that the higher the speed limit, the less time you save by speeding.
AAA says such studies are conducted in a perfect world, meaning no red lights, traffic, congestion or construction.
“Any time gained by speeding is often lost while waiting at the next intersection or getting stuck in a traffic jam with everyone else,” AAA said.
Not to mention the time you will waste getting pulled over and waiting for your ticket.
Speed was a factor in 30% of all crashes, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said, noting that in 2023 more than 11,500 people were killed in speed-related crashes.