Is It Legal to Drive 5 Miles Over the Speed Limit in Washington State?

You do that, too, don't you?

You're on the freeway heading to Tri-Cities or maybe Seattle and, even though your cruise control can be set for the exact speed limit, you're still getting passed on the road. There's no harm in going a few miles over, is there?

There may be more harm than you think.

But why?

Is it considered speeding if everyone is speeding and you're just going with the flow of traffic?

I mean, you're definitely not going faster than the other guy in front of you. You're just following the flow of traffic.

but consider that if there's someone going faster than you, and you're behind them and still speeding, you may be the one getting pulled over, not the other guy.

Is it illegal?

RCW 46.61.400 Basic rule and maximum limits says this:

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.

Never mind 10 over which is definitely speeding, 5 miles over the speed limit is still speeding.

1 mile over the speed limit is technically speeding and could even get you a ticket of $105 - $125 depending on where you are.

And the prices keep going up ever 5 miles over the posted speed limit.

I mean, it's called a speed limit for a reason.

Though, according to, RCW 46.61.425 states:

(1) No person shall drive a motor vehicle at such a slow speed as to impede the normal and reasonable flow of traffic [and] a person following a vehicle driving at less than the legal maximum speed and desiring to pass such vehicle may exceed the speed limit…at only such a speed and for only such a distance as is necessary to complete the pass with a reasonable margin of safety.

So if you get that slow person that's backing everyone else up then, sure, it's understandable to pass them even if you go a little over, so long as it's perfectly safe but soon as you get back in front of them you gotta drop your speed right back down.

So, is it legal to drive even just 5 miles over the speed limit?

Short answer: Nope.

Shorter answer: No.

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