Houston Code of Ordinances § 45-91 Maximum limits generally.
Sec. 45-91. - Maximum limits generally.
(a) No person shall drive a vehicle on any street or highway in the city at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the circumstances then existing. Except when a special hazard exists that requires lower speeds for compliance with subsection (d), the following limits shall be lawful, but any speed in excess of such limits shall be prima facie evidence that the speed is not reasonable or prudent and that it is unlawful:
(1) Where no other speed limit has been posted with appropriate signs giving notice thereof, 30 miles per hour on any street or highway other than an alley and 15 miles per hour on an alley within the city limits.
(2) Seventy miles per hour during the daytime and 65 miles per hour during the nighttime for any passenger car on any state or federal numbered highway outside any urban district, including farm and/or ranch-to-market roads, and 60 miles per hour during the daytime and 55 miles per hour during the nighttime for any passenger car on all streets or highways outside any urban district.
(3) Sixty miles per hour for all other vehicles on any streets or highway outside any urban district.
(4) The speed limits for any bus or other vehicle engaged in the business of transporting passengers for compensation or hire, for any commercial vehicle which is in authorized use as a "Highway Post Office" vehicle furnishing Highway Post Office service in the transportation of the United States mail, and for any light truck, shall be the same as prescribed for passenger cars at the same location.
(b) The above limitations notwithstanding, the following prima facie maximum limits are declared, for any streets or highway outside any urban district:
(1) Forty-five miles per hour for any vehicle towing any house trailer of actual or registered gross weight exceeding 4,500 pounds or with an overall length exceeding 32 feet, excluding the tow bar.
(2) Sixty miles per hour in daytime and 55 miles per hour during nighttime for any truck, except light trucks, truck tractor, trailer or semi-trailer, or for any vehicle towing any trailer, semi-trailer, another motor vehicle, or any house trailer of actual or registered gross weight less than 4,500 pounds and overall length of 32 feet or less, excluding the tow bar.
(3) Fifty miles per hour for any school bus.
(c) For the purposes of this section, the following definitions shall apply:
(1) Daytime means from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset, and "nighttime" means at any other hour.
(2) Urban district means the territory contiguous to and including any highway or street which is built up with structures devoted to business, industry, or dwelling houses, situated at intervals of less than 100 feet for a distance of one-fourth of a mile or more on either side.
(3) Light truck means any truck with a manufacturer's rated carrying capacity not to exceed 2,000 pounds and includes those trucks commonly known as pickup trucks, panel delivery trucks and carry-all trucks.
(4) Passenger car means any motor vehicle, except motorcycles and motor-driven cycles, designed for carrying ten passengers or less and used for the transportation of persons.
(5) Alley means a street that:
(1) Is not used primarily for through traffic; and
(2) Gives access to rear entrances of buildings or lots along the street.
(d) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this article, no person shall drive a vehicle on a street 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 street in compliance with legal requirements and the duty of all persons to use due care.
(e) The driver of every vehicle shall, consistent with the requirements of subsection (d), drive at an appropriate reduced speed when approaching or crossing an intersection or railway grade crossing, when approaching or going around a curve, when approaching a hill crest, when traveling upon any narrow or winding roadway, and when a special hazard exists with respect to pedestrians or other traffic or by reason of weather or street or highway conditions.
(Code 1968, § 46-104; Ord. No. 72-1223, § 1, 7-18-72; Ord. No. 93-1624, §§ 1, 2, 12-22-93)