Florida Learner's Permit
Low beam headlights are only effective for speeds up to
20 - 25 mph. Avoid "over-driving" your lights (driving too fast for what you can see).
Speed Limit for School Zones
20 mph
Speed Limit for Municipal, Business, or Residential Area
30 mph; except where otherwise posted
Minimum following distance
4 seconds in normal weather and traffic conditions. Increase during unusual weather or traffic conditions.
High beam headlights can reveal objects up to a distance of
450 feet and are most effective for speeds faster than 25 mph.
Speed Limit for Streets & Highways
55 mph; except where otherwise posted
Speed Limit for Limited Access Highways
70 mph
Speed Limit for Rural Interstate
70 mph; except where otherwise posted; on some rural interstate highways
HOV (High Occupancy Vehicle) Lanes
Some highways reserve the left lane for vehicles with two or more occupants or hybrid/low emission vehicles.
#1 Citation Written for Teens
Speeding
Safest Speed
The one that allows you to have complete control of your vehicle and avoid collisions. Speed limits show the fastest speed you may drive under IDEAL conditions.
If your vehicle is being followed too closely
Slow down and keep to the right.
You must yield right-of-way when you enter an open intersection if:
* A vehicle is already in the intersection * You enter or cross a state highway from a secondary road * You enter a paved road from an unpaved road * You plan to make a left turn and a vehicle is approaching from the opposite direction
Smooth Stops
* Check mirrors and blind spots for traffic to the rear. * Release accelerator to allow vehicle to slow. Press brake pedal to activate brake lights and use a steady pressure for a smooth stop.
Increase following speed in these situations:
* Rain or when roads are wet. * Low visibility - dusk, dawn, night, fog, etc. * When being passed. * Carrying a heavy load or pulling a trailer. * When stopped behind another vehicle on an incline; it may roll back before moving forward. * When following motorcycles, emergency vehicles, vehicles with a stopped rear view, and vehicles required to come to a complete stop at railroad crossings (city buses, school buses, vehicles carrying hazardous materials).
Making Turns
* You must use vehicle directional signals or hand signals to show other drivers you are about to turn. * Turn signals are required by law when changing lanes or overtaking a vehicle. * You must give a turn signal for at least 100 feet BEFORE you make your turn. * It is against the law to use your directional signals to tell drivers behind you that they can pass. * Hand signals must be given from the left side of the vehicle.
Steps for Turning
1. Slow down to a safe turning speed. 2. Move into the correct lane as you near the intersection. The correct lane for a right turn is the right-most lane. 3. You must activate your turn signal at least 100 feet before making your turn. Allow time for drivers around you to see your signal before you move. 4. Obey NO TURN ON RED or STOP HERE signs. 5. Yield to bicyclists when crossing a bike lane and to pedestrians who may be crossing your path. 6. Stay in the proper lane during your turn. Yield the right-of-way to vehicles and bicycles coming from the opposite direction. 7. Finish your turn in the proper lane. Turn right into the right lane of the roadway entered. A left turn may be completed in any lane lawfully available - or safe - for the desired direction available.
Parking on Hills
1. Turn your wheels so that if your car starts to move, it will roll away from traffic or into the curb. 2. Set the parking brake. 3. Automatic transmission: put gearshift in Park. Manual transmission: shift to Reverse (downhill) or First (uphill). 4. Turn off vehicle.
Determining Following Distance
1. Watch when rear of vehicle ahead passes a stationary marker like a sign or light pole. 2. Count the seconds it takes you to reach the same marker: "one-thousand-one, one-thousand-two, one-thousand-three, one-thousand-four." 3. If you pass the stationary marker before counting to one-thousand-four, you are following too closely. 4. Reduce speed and then count again at another stationary point. Repeat until you are following no closer than four seconds.
Following Distance for Trucks
A truck or any vehicle towing another vehicle must not follow within 300 feet of another truck or vehicle towing a vehicle. Does not apply to overtaking and passing, or within cities and towns.
HOV Lanes
Are identified by signs/diamond pavement symbols, and are separated by a striped buffer zone.
Blind Spots
Areas near the left and right rear corners of vehicle that you can't see in your rear-view mirrors or with your peripheral vision. Do not drive in someone else's blind spot. Move forward or drop back so that the other driver can see you.
You must turn on your parking lights
At night when you are parked on a roadway or shoulder outside of cities and towns.
You must use headlights
Between the hours of sunset and sunrise.
Quadrupling speed from 20 to 60 mph
Braking distance and impact are 16 times greater.
Doubling speed from 20 to 40 mph
Braking distance and impact are 4 times greater.
Tripling speed from 20 to 60 mph
Braking distance and impact are 9 times greater. Stopping distance is equal to a football field.
When leaving a brightly lit area
Drive slowly until your eyes adjust to the darkness.
Roundabouts
Circular intersections with no traffic signal. * Travel in a one-way, counter-clockwise direction. * Drivers entering must yield to current traffic. * If there is no traffic, you may enter without yielding. * Do not change lanes. * Do not stop. * Signal before exiting.
If the road has four or more lanes with two-way traffic,
Drive in the right lanes except when overtaking and passing.
Driveways
Drivers entering a road from a driveway, alley, or roadside must yield to vehicles already on the main road, as well as to pedestrians and bicyclists on the sidewalk or in bike lanes.
Rear-end collisions are almost always caused by
Drivers following too closely.
Prior to entering or exiting the roundabout
Drivers must yield to pedestrians in the crosswalks.
Slow Driving
Driving too slowly is also against Florida law. Drive with flow of traffic, within speed limit. When driving slower than flow of traffic, keep right so others may safely pass. On highways, when posted speed limit is 70 mph, minimum speed limit is 50 mph.
High Speeds
Greatly increase stopping distances and severity of crashes. The faster you drive, the greater the impact or striking power of your vehicle.
Multi-lane Roundabouts
Have the same rules as single-lane roundabouts, however you will need to choose the proper lane prior to entering the roundabout.
Reaction Distance
How far you will continue to travel after seeing the hazard until you physically hit the brakes. The average driver has a reaction time of 3/4 second to 1 second. At 50 mph this accounts for 55 feet traveled.
Perception Distance
How far your vehicle travels - in ideal conditions - from the time your eye sees a hazard until your brain recognizes it. Can be affected by mental and physical conditions, medication, as well as visibility and the hazard itself. Average perception time for an alert driver is 3/4 second to 2 second.
Braking Distance
How far your vehicle will travel - in ideal conditions - while you are braking. At 50 mph on dry pavement with good brakes, it can take about 158 feet.
Doubling Car Speed
Increases force of impact four times.
Tripling Car Speed
Increases force of impact nine times.
The center lane of a three-lane or five-lane highway
Is used only for turning left.
Bicyclists
May take the lane in the roundabout or use the sidewalk.
Bike Lanes
Motorized vehicles are not allowed to drive in bike lanes; they may cross over them when turning at intersections, but only when no bicyclists are present in the bike lane.
When not to make a three-point turn or a U-turn
On a curve, a hill, the highway, or where there is a sign that prohibits U-turns.
Vehicles may enter and exit the HOV lane
Only at designated points.
Right-of-Way
Tell who goes first and who must wait in different conditions. Law says who must yield right-of-way. Every driver, motorcyclist, moped rider, bicyclist, and pedestrian must do everything possible to avoid a crash.
Total Stopping Distance
Total minimum distance your vehicle will travel - including perception distance, and braking distance - until you can bring your vehicle to a complete stop. At 50 mph, you will travel a minimum of 268 feet... nearly the length of a football field.
Uphill with Curb
Turn wheels from curb.
Downhill
Turn wheels to curb.
Uphill no Curb
Turn wheels to right.
Before you move to change lanes on a highway or to pass on a road
Turn your head to make sure these areas are clear.
Three-Point Turn
Use only if the road is too narrow for a U-turn and you can't go around the block. 1. Move as far right as possible, check traffic, and signal a left turn. Turn the steering wheel sharply to the left and move forward slowly. Stop at the curb. 2. Shift to reverse, turn your wheels sharply to the right, check traffic, and back your vehicle to the right curb. 3. Shift the vehicle into drive and pull forward carefully.
To go straight or left, and to make a U-turn in a multi-lane roundabout
Use the left lane.
To go straight or right in a multi-lane roundabout
Use the right lane.
You must use low beam headlights
When coming 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.
If you see red reflectors facing you on the lane lines
You are on the wrong side of the road. Turn around or get into the proper lane immediately.
If you see red reflectors on the edge lines of the road
You are going the wrong way on an entrance or exit ramp. Pull over immediately. Turn around when it is safe to do so.
On a two-lane highway
You must always drive in the right lane unless you are overtaking (where permitted).
When two cars enter an open intersection at the same time
the driver on the left must yield to the driver on the right.
