Plaintiff Attorney Legal Information CenterTransportation Article Section 21-801(b) Driver to Control Speed
You are instructed that it is the law of this State that at all times, the driver of a vehicle on a highway shall control the speed of the vehicle as necessary to avoid colliding with any person or any vehicle or other conveyance that, in compliance with legal requirements and the duty all persons to use due care, while on or entering the highway.
Plain Meaning of Transportation Article §21-801(b)
Maryland law requires every driver to keep their vehicle under control at all times. That means driving at a speed that allows you to stop or slow down to avoid hitting another car, pedestrian, cyclist, or object in the road. It is not enough to simply drive at or below the posted speed limit. If conditions, like rain, traffic, or road construction, require a slower speed to be safe, the law requires drivers to adjust accordingly.
When Juries Hear This Instruction
When a car accident case goes to trial in Maryland, judges often give jurors this exact instruction. It reminds jurors that drivers can be negligent even if they were not “speeding” in the usual sense. A driver traveling 45 mph in a 50 mph zone can still be at fault if that speed was unsafe for the circumstances and caused a crash.