</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Looks like a disaster waiting to happen to me. )</font>
Perhaps, but maybe not as risky as some would think. It wasn't simply a case of "no speed limit" at all because the law required that you drive in a "reasonable and prudent" manner. Below is a quote taken from the State's website. So officers certainly could (and did) issue speeding citations, if in their judgement, the speed was unreasonable and imprudent. I would think any speed in excess of that speed at which you could stop within the distance you could see would be unreasonable and imprudent. So a cow in the road shouldn't be any great hazard if you can see it in time to stop before you hit it.
Theoretically at least, though I wouldn't recommend testing the theory, you can get away with exceeding the posted limits in Texas. That's because our law, too, prohibits speed in excess of that which is "reasonable and prudent". Now any speed in excess of the posted speed limit is "prima facie" evidence that such speed is unreasonable and imprudent. In other words, the burden of evidence shifts at that point, but if you could convince a judge and/or jury (or prove) that your speed, in excess of the posted limit, was reasonable and prudent under the existing conditions, you would be not guilty.
DISCLAIMER: I have not checked the case law to see whether, or how frequently, that has worked with the Highway Patrol, but many years ago, I've had defendants attempt that defense on speeding citations that I had issued. In those cases, I had to testify as to "existing conditions". And in the city, with the amount of traffic, number of intersections, driveways, businesses that were open, etc., I don't recall anyone ever winning with it. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Drivers must be aware of:
the amount and type of traffic sharing the highway with them. The traffic may be heavy or light and may include trucks, cars, motor homes, farm equipment, motorcycles and bicycles.
changing weather conditions—fog, snow, water and ice, for example—that affect visibility and road conditions.
the type of vehicle being driven, particularly the condition of the brakes and the weight of the vehicle, which affects braking ability.
the character of the highway the driver is traveling. Drivers should adjust their speed for hills or for winding and narrow roads.
the presence of intersections, railway grade crossings or pedestrians. )</font>
