Safety Belts
According to law of Florida about
driving, regardless of seating position, all occupants
of vans, cars and pickup trucks who are 6 years of
age or older have to wear seat belts. Passengers of
16 and older who disobey this provision can be fined
individually. Drivers will be held responsible and
fined for passengers 15 years old and younger who
are found unrestrained. Preschooler children through
3 years of age must be properly protected using a
crash-tested, federally approved child restraint device.
Such restraint device must be a detach carrier or
a vehicle manufacturer's integrated child seat. A
separate carrier, an integrated child seat, or a seat
belt may be used for children aged 4 through 5 years,
what ever is convenient. This seat belt law applies
to passenger cars manufactured beginning with the
1968 model year, and trucks beginning with the 1972
model year.
The law exempts the following from the seat belt requirements:
-
Any person certified by a physician
as having a medical condition that causes the
seat belt use to be unsuitable or risky.
-
A person who is Employee of a
home delivery service such as newspapers, while
delivering newspapers on home delivery routes.
-
Trucks of a net weight of more
than 5,000 pounds.
-
Motorcycle, moped or bicycle.
In a crash, you are far more likely
to be killed if you are not wearing a safety belt.
Wearing shoulder belts and lap belts make your chances
of living through a crash twice as good.
Florida Speed Limits
Business or Residential Area 25MPH
30MPH
Rural Interstate Limited Access Highways 70MPH*
All Other Roads and Highways 25MPH 55MPH
*The 55 MPH maximum speed limit is still in effect
in Florida except where otherwise posted. Speed limits
are 70 MPH on some rural interstate highways. Speed
limits may be changed on other multi-lane highways.
Drivers should not assume because the area appears
to be rural, the limit is 70 MPH. Observe and obey
the posted speed signs as there may be frequent changes
from area to area along the selected highways.
Turn Signals and Emergency Signals
You must use hand signals or directional
signals to show that you are about to turn.
It is against the law to use your directional signals
to tell drivers behind you that they can pass.
Four-way emergency flashers should only be used while
your vehicle is legally stopped or disabled on the
highway or shoulder of highway.
Traffic Lanes
Always drive on the right side of
a two-lane highway except when passing. If the road
has four or more lanes with two-way traffic, drive
in the right lanes except when overtaking and passing.
Left lanes on some interstate roads are reserved for
car pool vehicles with two or more occupants in the
car - watch for diamond signs in the median. The center
lane of a three-lane or five-lane highway is used
only for turning left.
If you see red reflectors facing you on the lane lines,
you are on the wrong side of the road. Get into the
proper lane immediately! If you see red reflectors
on the lines on the edge of the road, you are on the
wrong freeway ramp. Pull over immediately! Red reflectors
always mean you are facing traffic the wrong way and
could have a head-on collision.
Parking
When parking on a public road, move
as far away from traffic as possible. If there is
a roadside shoulder, pull as far onto it as you can.
If there is a curb, pull close to it - you must not
park more than one foot away.
Always park on the right side of the roadway, unless
it is a one-way street.
Make sure your vehicle cannot move. Set the parking
brake and shift to park with an automatic transmission
or reverse with a manual transmission. Turn off the
engine and lock the vehicle. Florida law requires
that you take the keys out of your vehicle before
leaving it. Always check traffic behind you before
getting out, or get out on the curb side.
Before you leave any parked position, look over your
shoulder to the rear to make sure the way is clear.
Give the proper turn signal if driving from a curb
and yield to other traffic.
Where Parking is not Allowed
-
On the roadway side of another
parked vehicle (double parking).
-
On crosswalks.
-
On sidewalks.
-
In front of driveways.
-
By curbs painted yellow or where
"No Parking" signs are posted.
-
Within intersections.
Within 15 feet of a fire hydrant.
-
Within 20 feet of an intersection.
-
Within 20 feet of the entrance
to a fire, ambulance or rescue squad station.
-
Within 50 feet of a railroad
crossing.
-
On the hard surface of a highway
where parking spaces are not marked.
-
On any bridge or overpass or
in any tunnel.
-
Within 30 feet of a rural mail
box on a state highway between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.
-
Within 30 feet of any flashing
signal, stop sign or traffic signal.
-
In such a way that you block
or create a hazard for other vehicles.
