In Hodges v. Severns (1962) 201 Cal.App.2d 99, the trial court refused to instruct the jury regarding either the prima facie speed limit for the area where the accident occurred or the basic speed law. Instead, the court gave an instruction regarding a rebuttable presumption of negligence for violation of the Vehicle Code and general duty instructions. The appellate court concluded this was error because the jury was left with no knowledge of the basic speed law or guidance as to how to evaluate the evidence in the case.