S-3622               _______________________________________________

                                                   SENATE BILL NO. 6279

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                               51st Legislature                              1990 Regular Session

By Senators Bender and Rasmussen

Read first time 1/10/90 and referred to Committee on  Transportation.

AN ACT Relating to highway speed limits; amending RCW 46.61.400; and providing an effective date.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

        Sec. 1.  Section 1, chapter 16, Laws of 1963 as amended by section 54, chapter 155, Laws of 1965 ex. sess. and RCW 46.61.400 are each amended to read as follows:

          (1) No person shall drive a vehicle on a highway at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the conditions and having regard to the actual and potential hazards then existing.  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 highway in compliance with legal requirements and the duty of all persons to use due care.

          (2) Except when a special hazard exists that requires lower speed for compliance with subsection (1) of this section, the limits specified in this section or established as hereinafter authorized shall be maximum lawful speeds, and no person shall drive a vehicle on a highway at a speed in excess of such maximum limits.

          (a) Twenty-five miles per hour on city and town streets;

          (b) Fifty miles per hour on county roads;

          (c) Sixty miles per hour on state highways.

          The maximum speed limits set forth in this section may be altered as authorized in RCW 46.61.405, 46.61.410, and 46.61.415, but the speed limit on all lanes of any particular portion of a highway that is not divided into separate roadways by a median or a physical barrier, regardless of the direction of travel, must be the same.

          (3) The driver of every vehicle shall, consistent with the requirements of subsection (1) 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.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.     This act shall take effect October 1, 1990.