Traffic laws are put into place in order to protect everyone on the road.
While some people may have trouble following the speed limit, these regulations are necessary to keep the roads safe.
However, up to 9% of drivers break traffic laws in order to save time.
But, it isn’t just obvious rules that people often break.
While people often heed red lights, stop signs, and other visible warnings against infractions, there are a handful of regulations that drivers may not even be aware of.
Florida traffic laws can be tough to follow if you don’t even know all of the details.
Need to know more? Read on to learn the 10 traffic laws in Florida that people break while driving.
1. Speeding
Speeding as by far the most common infraction that drivers commit. We’re all guilty of going over the speed limit to cut down on the time we spend on our trip.
However, it’s very easy to speed without even knowing it.
The most common cause of unintentional speeding is that drivers are often unaware of the current speed limit for that segment of the road.
The only way to combat bad driving habits that include speeding, or even running red lights, is to be very vigilant and aware of what the current limit is.
When you get pulled over, “I didn’t know how fast I was supposed to be going” is never a viable excuse.
2. No-Passing Zones
Ever been stuck behind someone going 10 MPH under the speed limit? Most of us have.
It’s not uncommon for frustrated drivers to attempt to pass someone in front of them by driving around the adjacent vehicle.
But, driving over a solid line rather than a dotted line is a driving infraction that could result in a ticket.
Even if you have the proper amount of room to pass another driver, you shouldn’t risk doing so unless the road rules allow it.
3. Railroad Violations
People break Florida traffic laws every day. But, they don’t always involve other cars or pedestrians.
If a railroad signal is sounding and you decide to speed up before the barriers come down to block the railroad, you could get pulled over.
Regardless of the ticket that you may receive, it is extremely dangerous to try and beat a train across the tracks.
4. Buzzed Driving
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, buzzed driving is drunk driving.
Even if you’ve only had a few beers, there’s a chance that your blood alcohol concentration may be higher than the legal limit.
A drunk driving charge often costs thousands of dollars to manage and can also result in a license suspension.
In serious cases, such as if injury or property damage occurs, it could even result in jail time.
5. Reckless Driving
Reckless driving has a somewhat loose definition. As the name suggests, it involves driving with little regard for yourself, your surroundings, or Florida traffic laws.
Reckless driving is a serious offense that can carry harsh penalties. It also endangers the lives of others on the road (as well as your own).
While reckless driving is not as common as speeding when it comes to offenses, the driver is often unaware they are driving in this manner when they do so.
But, ignorance of a traffic law doesn’t mean that it’s OK to break it!
In the event that you do get pulled over, however, it’s important to know your rights.
6. Rolling Stops
Speeding and rolling stops going hand in hand when it comes to people trying to save as much time as possible while driving.
A rolling stop is when a driver slows down for a stop sign or a red light (when making a right turn), but never completely stops before they continue driving.
While it may seem innocent in nature, rolling stops have the potential to be extremely dangerous.
Cyclists, pedestrians, and other vehicles are relying on you to obey Florida traffic laws, and often act as if you are going to follow the rules of the road.
It’s not uncommon for rolling stops to result in collisions, and if the person being hit is on a bicycle or walking, the outcome could be catastrophic.
7. Unsafe Highway Lane Changes
Highways are particularly dangerous when compared to roads in more residential areas.
The higher speed limit means that you have less time to react when you suddenly have to adapt to the situation. The higher speeds also generally mean that accidents are far worse.
When changing lanes on the highway, it’s important to make sure that you give other drivers enough time to adjust to the action you’re taking.
Weaving in and out of traffic (especially at high speeds) is a surefire way to cause an accident.
8. Driving on the Wrong Side of the Road
If you turn the wrong way down a one-way street, you could end up with a fine (or an accident).
There aren’t many people out there who drive the wrong way down these roads on purpose, but there are plenty who do it unintentionally.
Some people may do it on purpose, however, to try and cut through a specific neighborhood or area of downtown.
Just because there’s nobody coming doesn’t make it legal.
9. Passing Stopped School Buses
No gray area here. You have to stop every time a school bus stops.
Children will be cross the street in front of and behind the bus, and not all kids will look both ways.
So, it is illegal to pass a stopped school bus, as you may endanger a child’s life.
Even if there aren’t kids near you, police will pull you over for attempting to pass a school bus at a stop. Just be patient.
10. Failure to Follow at a Safe Distance
Also known as tailgating, following too closely to another driver is against Florida traffic laws.
Not only does it make the other driver nervous and more likely to cause an accident, it leaves you with little time to react if they suddenly stop.
Staying more than one car length behind the driver in front of you is your best bet.
Brush up on Florida Traffic Laws Every Now and Then
As previously mentioned, not knowing that you were breaking a law will most likely not get you out of a ticket.
Every now and then, take the time to refresh your memory on safe driving habits.
Got pulled over for speeding? Don’t worry. Check out our speeding ticket guide that covers what to do next.
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