It's winter, and that means driving the speed limit may still be too fast. Major Sandra Huxtable with the Wisconsin State Patrol says drivers tend to assume that the speed limit is the speed limit, no matter what. Huxtable says drivers "have an expectation . . that if the sign says 55 or 65, that they're allowed to go that speed," regardless of conditions."
That's not the case, of course. Drivers need to be aware that changing weather conditions will factor into a law enforcement officer's consideration of what constitutes a safe speed. Troopers can issues citations for driving too fact for conditions, or for failng to have their vehicle under control. And, watch out for those snowplows. "If you're too close to that snowplow, you're not going to see and be able to react to, obstructions in the highway" or a braking snowplow," explains Huxtable. The bottom line is slow down when weather deteriorates or the highway is snow-covered or icy.