Speed limits — Pennsylvania Permit Test
Speed limits on the Pennsylvania permit test — 9 rules, each with the reason behind it and a question on it while it is fresh.
The rules
The maximum speed limit in Pennsylvania is 70 miles an hour.
It is the ceiling for the whole state, and no posted sign goes above it.
The maximum speed limit in Pennsylvania is 70.
In a school zone the speed limit is 15 miles an hour when the lights on the school zone sign are flashing, or during the hours shown on the sign.
It is set for a child stepping out from between parked cars, which is the whole reason for the zone.
You must travel no faster than 15 mph when the yellow signals are flashing or during the time periods indicated on the sign.
Exceeding the speed limit in a school zone puts three points on your driving record, and you will also be fined.
The points stay on your record long after the fine is paid.
Exceeding the speed limit in a school zone will result in three (3) points on your driving record, and you will also be fined.
Posted speed limits give the highest safe driving speed under ideal road, traffic and weather conditions.
The number was set for a dry road in daylight with light traffic, which is often not the road you are on.
Posted speed limits indicate what the maximum safe driving speed is drivers are involved in crashes.
Even when you are within the posted speed limit you can be ticketed for driving too fast for conditions.
The sign does not know it is raining; the officer does.
Even if you are driving within the posted speed limit, you can still be ticketed for driving too fast for conditions.
On interstate highways the maximum speed limit is posted after each interchange; on other highways it is posted about every half mile.
The limit is repeated so a driver who joined mid-road still knows it.
On other highways the maximum speed limit would be posted at approximately ½ mile intervals.
A driver under 18 who is convicted of driving 26 miles an hour or more over the posted limit has their driving privilege suspended.
At that speed the offense stops being a ticket and starts being the loss of the license.
the driving privilege of a person under the age of 18 will be suspended if that person accumulates six (6) or more points or is convicted of driving 26 mph or more over the posted speed limit
An open-bed pickup or flatbed truck may not be driven faster than 35 miles an hour if anyone is riding in the bed.
There is nothing holding a person in the bed and nothing to hold them back.
An open-bed pickup truck or open flatbed truck may not be driven at a speed of more than 35 mph, if any person is occupying the bed of the truck.
A truck with an open bed may not be driven at all when a child under 18 is riding in the bed, apart from a few narrow exceptions such as farm work or a sanctioned parade.
A child in the bed has no belt, no seat and nothing to hold.
Such a truck may not be driven when a child under 18 years of age is occupying the bed of the truck.
On the test
What is the maximum speed limit in Pennsylvania?
70 miles an hour. It is the ceiling for the whole state, and no posted sign goes above it. PA Driver's Manual, p.39: “The maximum speed limit in Pennsylvania is 70.”
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Where these come from
Every rule here is checked against PA Driver's Manual, published by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, and against the state code itself. Last checked 2026-09-06.