Sharing the road in Florida

By the end of this topic you can

• You can yield correctly to pedestrians at signalized and unsignalized crosswalks.
• You can pass a bicyclist with at least 3 feet of space.
• You can stay out of a large truck's blind spots and give motorcycles a full lane.
• You can pull over and stop correctly for an emergency vehicle.
• You can approach and cross railroad tracks safely.

What you need to know and understand

• Where there is no signal, slow or stop for a pedestrian in a crosswalk on your half of the road or close to it from the other half.
• Never pass a vehicle that has stopped at a crosswalk to let someone cross.
• Pass a bicyclist or electric bicycle in your lane or in a bike lane with at least 3 feet of space, or wait behind until you can.
• For an emergency vehicle using a siren or flashing red or blue lights, pull to the nearest edge of the road, clear of intersections, and stop until it passes.
• Move over a lane, or slow to 20 mph under the limit, for stopped emergency, service and disabled vehicles.
• At a railroad crossing with signals operating, stop between 15 and 50 feet from the nearest rail; never drive around a lowered gate.
• A first conviction for unlawfully crossing a railroad crossing carries a $500 fine (or 25 hours of community service) and 6 points.

People on foot

At a signalized intersection, stay stopped on red while a pedestrian with a walk signal is in the crosswalk on your half of the road, or approaching closely from the other half. Where a sign tells you to stop for pedestrians, do so. Where there is no signal or sign, yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk, slowing or stopping as needed.

If the car ahead or beside you has stopped at a crosswalk, assume someone is crossing in front of it and do not pass. On a green light, turning drivers must still yield to people in the crosswalk.

Bicycles, motorcycles and trucks

• Bicyclists: leave at least 3 feet when passing. When turning right past a bicyclist, turn only when the bike is at least 20 feet from the intersection and it is safe. Check for bikes before opening your door.
• Motorcyclists: give them a full lane and a longer following distance. They are small, easy to miss in mirrors and can stop quickly.
• Large trucks: they have big blind spots on all four sides. If you cannot see the driver in the truck's mirror, the driver cannot see you. Do not cut in front after passing, and give them room to turn wide.

Sirens, school buses and trains

1. Siren or red or blue lights behind you: yield, move to the edge of the road clear of any intersection, stop, and wait until the vehicle passes.
2. Stopped emergency or service vehicle ahead: leave the nearest lane if you can, or slow to 20 mph under the posted limit.
3. School bus showing its stop signal: stop in both directions unless a 5-foot unpaved space, raised median or barrier separates you from it.
4. Railroad crossing: look and listen. If signals flash, a gate is down, a flagger signals or a train is near, stop 15 to 50 feet from the rail and stay stopped until it is clear.

Common mistakes

• Squeezing past a bicyclist in a narrow lane. If you cannot leave 3 feet, wait.
• Passing a car that has stopped at a crosswalk. A pedestrian may be hidden in front of it.
• Stopping in the middle of an intersection for an ambulance. Clear the intersection first, then pull over.
• Driving around a crossing gate that is lowering or rising. It is illegal while the gate is moving, not just while it is down.

Test yourself: Sharing the road in Florida

Answer each question, then read the explanation. Questions come in a random order each time.

Go deeper

• Florida Move Over Law and School Bus Stopping Rules Explained
• Florida Texting and Driving Law and Hands-Free Zones
• Florida Driver License Points