Florida Road Rules: Lecture Notes

Traffic Signals

• Solid Yellow Lines: Passing is prohibited.
• Green Light: Proceed if the way is clear.
• Flashing Yellow Light: Proceed with caution.
• Steady Yellow Light: Light is about to turn red; stop if safe.
• Red Traffic Light: Stop and proceed when safe.
• Flashing Yellow Arrow: Left turn allowed but must yield to oncoming traffic.

Child Safety

• Children under age 5 must be in a federally approved restraint seat.
• Rear-facing child seats should never be placed in the front passenger seat.
• Minimum Drinking Age: 21.

Emergency and School Buses

• School Bus with Flashing Red Lights: Must stop unless on a divided highway.
• Emergency Vehicles: Pull over to the closest edge of the road and yield.
• Florida’s Move Over Law: Move over a lane or slow down for emergency vehicles.
• Approaching School Bus on Two-Lane Road: Stop for both directions.

Roundabouts

• Yield to traffic already in the circle.

Lane Usage and Changes

• Two-Lane Road: Solid yellow lines indicate no passing zones.
• Multi-Lane Road: Leftmost lane is for passing.
• Changing Lanes: Check mirrors and blind spots; always use turn signals.
• Lane Closed Ahead: Merge as soon as safely possible.
• Dashed White Line between lanes: You may cross to change lanes if safe.

Speed Limits and Safety

• Safe Following Distance: 3 seconds in ideal conditions.
• Posted Speed Limit: Maximum in ideal conditions; adjust for road conditions.
• Hydroplaning: Ease off accelerator, steer in the direction you want to go.

Traffic Signs

• Diamond-Shaped Sign: Often indicates warnings.
• White Rectangular Sign: Regulatory sign.
• Orange Triangle with Red Borders: Slow-moving vehicle.
• Red Circle with Horizontal White Line: No entry.

Special Rules

• Hand Signals: Can be used if turn signals fail.
• Texting While Driving: Prohibited in Florida.
• Bicyclists Rights: Same as other Motor Vehicles.
• Turning Right on Red: Allowed after a full stop unless posted otherwise.
• Railroad Crossing: Slow down, look, listen for a train.
• Roundabouts: Yield to traffic in the roundabout.

Parking Rules

• Within 10 ft of a Fire Hydrant: Prohibited.
• Parking Uphill Without a Curb: Turn front wheels to the right.

Pedestrian Safety

• Pedestrian Crossing without Crosswalk: Do not automatically have the right of way.
• Blind Pedestrians: Yield right of way.

DUI and Implied Consent

• DUI: Driving Under the Influence.
• Implied Consent: Agree to blood, urine, or breath test if suspected of DUI.
• DUI Record: Remains for 75 years.

Skidding and Fog

• If in a Skid: Steer in the direction you want the front of the car to go.
• Driving in Fog: Pull over and wait for it to clear.

Miscellaneous Rules

• Stop at Four-Way Stops: Vehicle on the right goes first.
• Yield before Turning Left: Yield to all other traffic and pedestrians.
• Motorcyclists: Entitled to the full width of a lane.
• Work Zone Fines: Doubled for violations.
• No-Zone: Truck's blind spots.
• Using Headphones While Driving: Prohibited.