Can You Be Arrested for Reckless Driving at the Speed Limit?

Reckless Driving at the Speed Limit

Can you be arrested for driving the speed limit without obvious swerving or excessive lane changes or riding the shoulder?

Yes. The speed limit doesn’t apply when road and/or weather conditions have deteriorated. Simple. At least in theory.

Driving in a ‘Super Fog’

In October 2023, a ‘super fog’ descended over parts of Louisiana. Super fog, according to the National Weather Service occurs, “when a mixture of smoke and moisture released from damp, smoldering materials such as brush, leaves and trees, mixes with cooler, saturated air . . . a super fog can lower visibility to less than 10 feet.”

On a stretch of Interstate-55, which is almost entirely over water and swampland, the super fog caused over 168 vehicles to crash in a massive pileup that jammed across all lanes. Cars were simply pulverized and pushed atop other cars. Fires broke out, at least one of them grew hot enough to melt cars into the pavement.

Seven people were killed. About 63 people were taken to local hospitals, some with serious, life-threatening injuries. Many others were injured but managed get to medical care on their own.

A Reckless Operation Arrest (and more)

Months after the crashes, a truck driver, 61-year-old Ronald Britt from Lafayette, Louisiana, was arrested for smashing into one of the pileups. He was arraigned on negligent homicide for the death of one driver, along with negligent injuring, reckless operation and other traffic offenses.

He is the only person charged in connection to the super fog crashes.

Britt was driving an 80,000-pound truck at around 60 mph (the speed limit was 70 mph) when he crashed into the car ahead of him. The impact killed a 60-year-old man and severely injured his wife. It’s unclear if they were stopped or simply moving very slowly in the dense fog - in any event, there was no way for them to pull over on that stretch of road, nor were there any exits - everyone on that road was essentially trapped.

Driving Under the Speed Limit, But . . .

Britt was driving under the speed limit - the speed limit, that is, for a bright, sunny hot, dry Louisiana day. An 80,000-pound semi traveling at 60 mph on a DRY road takes 190-200 feet to stop after the brakes are hit. With visibility measured in ‘feet’ . . . well, throw the numbers out, it was a crash waiting to happen.

Regardless of how great Britt’s reaction times were, or how accurate and well-tuned his semi’s collision avoidance system may have been, it would still take over two NBA basketball courts for his truck to stop.

As the Louisiana State Police noted, “Britt was operating at a negligent speed, given the driving conditions at the time, which led to the death” of the man and the injuries sustained by his wife.

Reckless Driving and Driving Conditions

Reckless Driving: More Than Just Speed

Reckless driving is not solely determined by a vehicle's speed. While exceeding the posted limit is a common factor, it's important to understand that driving at a speed that is unsafe for given conditions can also constitute reckless driving. This includes situations where a driver is technically under the speed limit but their actions or the circumstances pose a significant risk to themselves or others.

Poor to Bad Driving Conditions

When road conditions deteriorate due to factors like:

Drivers must adjust their speed and driving style accordingly. Driving at a speed that is appropriate for ideal conditions may be dangerously excessive in these circumstances.

Does Britt Have a Defense?

A defense for Britt faces an uphill battle as, even though no one could see a thing, semis – like most newer model cars - in 2024 are loaded with electronic trackers. His speed, lane changes, reaction time to hitting the breaks, perhaps even where he was looking, are all available.

Facing reckless driving charges can have serious consequences, even if you were driving at or below the speed limit. At Knauss Law Firm, we specialize in defending clients against reckless driving accusations, no matter the circumstances. Don’t risk your future—take action now. Learn how we can build a strong defense for your reckless driving case and protect your rights. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.