SPECIAL DRIVING SITUATIONS +2Florida · Driving · English

In conditions with low visibility, such as fog, smoke, or heavy rain, Florida law mandates specific actions to ensure safety. You must turn on your headlights. Crucially, you should use your low beam headlights, as high beams will reflect off the fog or rain, further impairing your vision. A key Florida-specific law to remember is that you must turn on your headlights any time you turn on your windshield wipers. Use the right edge line of the road as a visual guide and eliminate all distractions.

• ✓You must turn on your headlights when driving in low visibility conditions.
• ✓Use low beam headlights in fog, smoke, or heavy rain; high beams will worsen visibility.
• ✓Florida law requires you to turn on your headlights whenever your windshield wipers are in use.

Rain makes roads slick, increasing braking distance. You must increase your following distance. Hydroplaning, where your vehicle slides on a layer of water, is a major risk. It can be prevented by slowing down and ensuring your tires have good tread and are properly inflated. If your brakes get wet, you should slow down and gently apply the brake pedal until they work correctly. Never attempt to drive through a flooded roadway; the water's depth and current are unknown, and your vehicle could be swept away.

• ✓Increase your following distance on wet roads because braking distance increases.
• ✓Hydroplaning occurs when your tires lose contact with the road; reduce speed to prevent it.
• ✓If you encounter a flooded roadway, you must turn around and find another route; do not drive through it.

Florida law has very specific rules for using headlights at night, which are frequently tested. Headlights must be used between sunset and sunrise. You must switch from high beams to low beams when you are within 500 feet of an oncoming vehicle. You must also use low beams when you are following a vehicle within 300 feet. It is illegal to drive using only your parking lights. High beams are most effective at speeds over 25 MPH and can reveal objects up to 450 feet away.

• ✓You must use headlights from sunset to sunrise.
• ✓You must use low beam headlights when you are within 500 feet of an oncoming vehicle.
• ✓You must use low beam headlights when you are within 300 feet of the vehicle ahead of you.
• ✓It is illegal to drive using only parking lights in place of headlights.

When encountering an animal on the road, your primary goal is to maintain control of your vehicle and avoid a more serious crash. Do not swerve into oncoming traffic or off the road. It is safer to collide with the animal than to cause a head-on collision or lose control. Slow down, tap your brakes, and sound your horn if you have time. If a collision is inevitable, brake firmly but stay on the roadway. Crashes involving large animals, like deer or bears, must be reported to law enforcement.

• ✓Do not swerve into oncoming traffic or off the roadway to avoid hitting an animal.
• ✓If a collision is unavoidable, keep your vehicle under control and on the roadway.
• ✓You must report a crash to law enforcement if it involves a large animal such as a bear, deer, or farm animal.

When being pulled over by law enforcement, it is crucial to remain calm and follow a specific procedure to ensure safety for both the driver and the officer. This includes pulling over safely, turning off the engine, keeping hands visible, and waiting for instructions before retrieving any documents. Refusing to sign a traffic ticket can lead to arrest.

• ✓Upon seeing emergency lights, signal and pull over to the side of the road as soon as it is safe.
• ✓Keep your hands on the steering wheel or in another visible location until the officer instructs you otherwise.
• ✓Wait for the officer's instructions before reaching for your license, registration, or proof of insurance.
• ✓Refusal to sign a traffic ticket is not an admission of guilt, but it may result in your arrest.

Florida law requires any driver involved in a crash resulting in death, injury, or property damage to stop, render aid, and provide information. If a crash is minor and the vehicle is blocking traffic, it must be moved. For crashes with only property damage not requiring a police report, the driver must file a report with FLHSMV.

• ✓You must stop at the scene of any crash you are involved in that results in injury, death, or property damage.
• ✓If a crash is minor and your vehicle is blocking the flow of traffic, you are required by law to move it.
• ✓If a crash results in property damage and does not require a law enforcement report, you must make a written report to FLHSMV within 10 days.
• ✓If you hit an unattended vehicle or property, you must attempt to locate the owner or leave a note with your name, contact information, and license plate number.

Leaving the scene of a crash in Florida carries severe penalties that escalate based on the severity of the crash. These penalties range from a misdemeanor for property damage to a first-degree felony for a fatality, including mandatory prison time and a minimum three-year license revocation for any crash involving injury or death.

• ✓Leaving the scene of a crash that results in death is a 1st degree felony with a minimum 4-year prison term.
• ✓Leaving the scene of a crash involving injury, serious bodily injury, or death will result in your driver license being revoked for a minimum of 3 years.
• ✓Leaving the scene of a crash involving damage to a vehicle or property attended by another person is a 2nd degree misdemeanor.

The correct technique for emergency braking depends on whether your vehicle has an Anti-lock Braking System (ABS). For conventional brakes, you should pump them. For ABS, you must press the brake pedal down hard, hold it, and steer. Pumping the brakes on an ABS-equipped vehicle will disengage the system.

• ✓In an emergency with conventional brakes, you should pump the brakes to maintain control.
• ✓In an emergency with Anti-lock Brakes (ABS), you must press down hard on the brake pedal, hold it firmly, and steer out of danger.
• ✓Never pump the brakes on a vehicle equipped with ABS, as this will turn the system off.

If your vehicle begins to skid or hydroplane, you must regain traction and control. Immediately take your foot off the accelerator and do not use the brakes. To correct the skid, turn the steering wheel in the direction you want the vehicle to go (steer into the skid).

• ✓To correct a skid, take your foot off the gas pedal and do not apply the brakes.
• ✓Turn the vehicle's front tires in the direction you want to go, which means steering in the direction of the skid.

If your vehicle stalls on railroad tracks, the situation is extremely dangerous. Immediately get everyone out of the vehicle and move far away from the tracks. If a train is approaching, run at a 45-degree angle away from the tracks but towards the train to avoid being hit by your vehicle or debris from the collision.

• ✓If your car stalls on railroad tracks, exit the vehicle immediately and get everyone away from the car.
• ✓If a train is coming, run in a 45-degree angle away from the tracks but in the direction of the train.

If your vehicle crashes into water, you have a very short time—only 30 to 60 seconds—before it sinks. Your immediate priority is to escape. Do not call 911 until you are safely out. Unbuckle your seatbelt and get out through a side window by rolling it down or breaking it.

• ✓A vehicle will only float for 30 to 60 seconds after entering water; you must get out immediately.
• ✓The primary escape route is through a side window; unbuckle your seatbelt, then roll down or break the window.
• ✓Do not try to open the door and do not call 911 until after you have escaped the vehicle.

A tire blowout can cause a sudden loss of control. The correct response is to grip the steering wheel firmly, take your foot off the gas pedal, and do not use the brakes. Concentrate on steering to keep the vehicle straight. Only after the car has slowed down and is under control should you brake gently and pull completely off the road.

• ✓If you have a tire blowout, do not use the brakes; instead, take your foot off the gas pedal.
• ✓Hold the steering wheel tightly and concentrate on keeping the vehicle moving in a straight line.
• ✓Slow down gradually and only pull off the road once the car is fully under control.

When traffic signals at an intersection are not working due to a power outage, the intersection legally functions as a four-way stop. Drivers must come to a complete stop and yield the right-of-way according to four-way stop rules: the first vehicle to arrive proceeds first, and if two arrive simultaneously, the driver on the left yields to the driver on the right.

• ✓An intersection with an inactive traffic signal must be treated as a four-way stop.
• ✓At a four-way stop, vehicles proceed in the order they arrived.
• ✓If multiple vehicles arrive at the same time, the driver on the left must yield the right-of-way to the driver on the right.

Defensive driving involves using safe strategies to prevent crashes by anticipating potential dangers and the actions of others. If a crash becomes unavoidable, there is a clear hierarchy of choices to minimize damage and injury. The goal is to choose the option with the least severe outcome.

• ✓It is better to swerve off the road than to swerve into oncoming traffic.
• ✓Hitting a vehicle moving in the same direction is preferable to a head-on collision.
• ✓It is better to hit a soft object, like a hedge, than a solid object like a tree or post.

When assisting at a crash scene, the first priority is to call for help and ensure your own safety. When providing first aid, there are critical actions to avoid. You should never move a person with a suspected neck or spinal injury, nor should you remove the helmet from an injured motorcycle or bicycle rider.

• ✓Do not move an injured person who may have a neck or spinal injury.
• ✓Do not attempt to remove the helmet of an injured motorcycle or bicycle rider.
• ✓To treat for shock, have the person lie flat, elevate their legs, and cover them with a blanket to maintain body heat.

To prevent rear-end collisions, drivers must manage the space in front of and behind their vehicle. This involves maintaining a safe following distance of at least four seconds, signaling intentions early, and avoiding sudden stops. Driving too slowly can be as dangerous as speeding.

• ✓To avoid hitting the vehicle in front of you, maintain a minimum following distance of four seconds.
• ✓Signal well in advance for all turns, stops, and lane changes to give drivers behind you ample warning.
• ✓Avoid sudden stops by slowing down gradually and drive with the general flow of traffic, within the speed limit.

If your vehicle breaks down, your first priority is to get it completely out of the traffic lanes. Make the vehicle visible by turning on hazard lights and parking where it can be seen from 200 feet in each direction. For safety, all passengers should exit on the side away from traffic.

• ✓You must move a disabled vehicle so all four wheels are out of traffic lanes as soon as possible.
• ✓If possible, park where the disabled vehicle can be seen for 200 feet in each direction and turn on your hazard lights.
• ✓Have all passengers get out of the vehicle on the side away from traffic.

If your gas pedal becomes stuck, you must act quickly to slow the vehicle. The primary action is to shift the transmission into neutral, which disconnects the engine from the wheels. Then, you can apply the brakes and steer to a safe location. Do not turn off the engine unless shifting to neutral fails, as this will disable your power steering.

• ✓If your gas pedal gets stuck, the first step is to shift the car into neutral.
• ✓After shifting to neutral, apply the brakes and steer to a safe place to stop.
• ✓Do not shut off the engine immediately, as you will lose power steering, making the vehicle difficult to control.

If your right wheels drive off the edge of the pavement, it is critical to avoid overcorrection. Stay calm, hold the steering wheel firmly, and take your foot off the accelerator. Brake lightly and only when the vehicle has slowed, check for traffic and steer gently back onto the pavement at a slow speed.

• ✓If your wheels go off the pavement, take your foot off the gas pedal and do not slam on the brakes.
• ✓Hold the steering wheel firmly and steer in a straight line until you have slowed down.
• ✓When it is clear, turn back onto the pavement at a slow speed to avoid losing control.

In Florida, bicycles are legally considered vehicles and have the same rights and responsibilities as motor vehicles on public roads. Motorists must exercise specific caution around them, particularly by providing adequate clearance when passing. Bicyclists have rules they must follow, such as using bike lanes when available and proper lighting at night.

• ✓Florida law requires motorists to give bicyclists a minimum of three feet of clearance when passing.
• ✓A bicyclist may use the full lane if the lane is too narrow for a car and bicycle to share safely.
• ✓Between sunset and sunrise, bicyclists must have a white front light visible from 500 feet and a red rear light and reflector visible from 600 feet.
• ✓All bicyclists and passengers under age 16 are required to wear helmets.

When an emergency vehicle approaches using sirens or flashing lights, all road users must yield the right-of-way. This involves moving your vehicle out of the path of the emergency vehicle safely and promptly.

• ✓You must yield the right-of-way to law enforcement vehicles, fire engines, and other emergency vehicles using sirens or flashing lights.
• ✓Immediately pull over to the closest edge of the roadway and stop until the emergency vehicle has passed.
• ✓Do not block intersections when yielding to an emergency vehicle.

Motorcyclists have the right to a full traffic lane. Due to their smaller size, it can be difficult for other drivers to judge their speed and distance. Therefore, motorists must provide extra space and be vigilant when changing lanes or turning. There are also specific licensing and helmet laws for riders.

• ✓A motorcyclist is entitled to the entire lane; do not attempt to share a lane with a motorcycle.
• ✓Maintain more than a four-second buffer zone when following a motorcycle.
• ✓Motorcycle operators must wear a helmet unless they are 21 or older AND carry a medical insurance policy with at least $10,000 in medical benefits.
• ✓Operators of motorcycles must complete a safety course and obtain a motorcycle endorsement on their driver license.

Motorists must do everything possible to avoid colliding with pedestrians. This includes stopping for pedestrians in marked and unmarked crosswalks and exercising extreme caution around visually impaired or mobility-impaired individuals.

• ✓You must stop and remain stopped for pedestrians crossing at any marked crosswalk or intersection.
• ✓You may not overtake or pass a vehicle that is stopped at a crosswalk for a pedestrian.
• ✓You must come to a complete stop and yield to a visually impaired pedestrian using a white cane with a red tip or a service animal.

Florida law is very strict about stopping for school buses that are picking up or dropping off children. The rules vary depending on the type of roadway.

• ✓On a two-way street, all drivers moving in either direction must stop for a school bus displaying a stop signal.
• ✓On a highway divided by a raised barrier or an unpaved median at least five feet wide, you do not have to stop if you are moving in the opposite direction of the bus.
• ✓Painted lines or pavement markings are not considered barriers; in this case, traffic in both directions must stop.

Drivers must be extra vigilant in school zones and at school crossings. When a school crossing guard is present, you must obey their signals and stop for any pedestrians in the crosswalk.

• ✓When children or school crossing guards are present in a crosswalk, you must yield and stop at the stop line, not in the crosswalk.
• ✓Drivers must obey all signals and directions from a school crossing guard.

Due to their size, commercial motor vehicles like semi-trucks have significant blind spots, known as 'No Zones,' in the front, rear, and on both sides. Drivers should avoid lingering in these areas. Safe following distances are crucial, and extra care must be taken when a CMV is turning or backing up.

• ✓Stay out of the 'No Zone,' which are the large blind spots in front, behind, and on both sides of a CMV.
• ✓When passing a CMV, ensure you can see the truck's cab in your rearview mirror before merging back into the lane.
• ✓CMVs often need to swing wide to the left to make a right turn; do not drive between the CMV and the curb.
• ✓Never cross behind a CMV that is backing up, as the driver's view is completely obstructed.

Funeral processions have the right-of-way in Florida. Motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians must yield. Once the lead vehicle lawfully enters an intersection, the rest of the procession may follow without regard to traffic control devices.

• ✓All road users must yield the right-of-way to funeral processions.
• ✓Once the lead vehicle enters an intersection, the remaining vehicles in the procession may follow through, even if the traffic signal changes.
• ✓Vehicles in a funeral procession are identified by headlights and may also use flashing hazard lights.

In Florida, drivers must yield the right-of-way to public transit buses that are signaling to re-enter the traffic flow from a designated pullout bay.

• ✓You must yield the right-of-way to a public transit bus traveling in the same direction that has signaled to re-enter traffic.
• ✓This rule applies when the bus is leaving a specifically designated pullout bay.

Certain vehicles, like farm equipment, are designed for speeds under 25 MPH. They are required to display a specific orange and red triangular emblem on the rear when on public highways.

• ✓A vehicle displaying a triangular sign with a red border and orange center on its rear is a slow-moving vehicle (less than 25 MPH).
• ✓These vehicles must only be operated during daylight hours unless they are equipped with proper lights for night driving.

Low-Speed Vehicles (LSVs) are four-wheeled vehicles with top speeds of 21-25 MPH. To be operated on public roads, they must be registered, insured, and driven by a licensed driver only on specific streets.

• ✓LSVs may only be operated on streets with a posted speed limit of 35 MPH or less.
• ✓A valid driver license is required to operate an LSV.
• ✓LSVs must be registered and insured with Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and Property Damage Liability (PDL) coverage.

Golf carts can only be driven on designated roadways or golf courses. Operation on public roads is restricted by age, time of day, and the type of road.

• ✓A person under 18 may not drive a golf cart on a public road unless they possess a valid learner's license or driver license.
• ✓Golf carts may only be operated between sunrise and sunset unless specifically authorized by local government and equipped for night driving.
• ✓Golf carts may cross state roads with a speed limit of 45 MPH or less, but only at an intersection with a traffic control device.