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Traffic laws exist to protect everyone on the road. Some people may struggle to follow the speed limit, but these regulations are necessary to keep roads safe.
However, up to 9% of drivers break traffic laws in order to save time. But people don’t always break the obvious rules. People often follow red lights, stop signs, and other visible warnings, but a handful of regulations go unnoticed. 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 Florida traffic laws people break while driving.
Speeding is by far the most common infraction that drivers commit. We’re all guilty of speeding to cut down on our trip time. However, it’s very easy to speed without even knowing it.
The most common cause of unintentional speeding is that drivers often aren’t aware of the current speed limit for that stretch of road. The only way to combat bad driving habits like speeding or running red lights is to stay vigilant and aware of the current limit
When you get pulled over, “I didn’t know how fast I was supposed to be going” is never a viable excuse.
Ever been stuck behind someone going 10 MPH under the speed limit? Most of us have.
Frustrated drivers often try to pass by driving around the vehicle next to them. But crossing a solid line instead of a dotted line is a driving infraction that could get you a ticket. Even if you have enough room to pass another driver, you shouldn’t risk it unless the road rules allow it.
People break Florida traffic laws every day. But they don’t always involve other cars or pedestrians. If a railroad signal sounds and you speed up before the barriers come down to block the railroad, you could get pulled over.
Regardless of any ticket you may receive, trying to beat a train across the tracks is extremely dangerous.
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.
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 others on the road (and yourself). While reckless driving is less common than speeding, drivers are often unaware they are driving in this way
But ignorance of a traffic law doesn’t mean that it’s OK to break it! If you do get pulled over, however, you should know your rights.
Speeding and rolling stops go hand in hand when people try 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 fully stops before continuing. While it may seem innocent, rolling stops can be extremely dangerous.
Cyclists, pedestrians, and other drivers rely on you to obey Florida traffic laws, and often assume you’ll follow the rules of the road. Rolling stops often lead to collisions, and if the person being hit is on a bicycle or walking, the outcome can be catastrophic.
Highways are particularly dangerous when compared to roads in more residential areas. The higher speed limit means you have less time to react when you suddenly have to adapt. Higher speeds also generally mean accidents are far worse.
When changing lanes on the highway, make sure you give other drivers enough time to adjust to your move
Weaving in and out of traffic (especially at high speeds) is a surefire way to cause an accident.
If you turn the wrong way down a one-way street, you could get a fine (or cause an accident). Few people drive the wrong way down these roads on purpose, but plenty do it unintentionally.
Some people may do it on purpose, however, to cut through a specific neighborhood or part of downtown. Just because there’s nobody coming doesn’t make it legal.
No gray area here. You have to stop every time a school bus stops.
Children will be crossing 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 no kids are near you, police will pull you over for attempting to pass a stopped school bus. Just be patient.
Also known as tailgating, following too closely is against Florida traffic laws. It not only makes the other driver nervous and more likely to cause an accident, but also leaves you 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.
As mentioned, not knowing you were breaking the 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.
Florida Ticket proudly serves Tampa, Brandon, and Lutz, as well as all of Pinellas County and South Florida, including Fort Lauderdale and Hollywood.
Contact our firm today for a free consultation or call (813) 276-6000 right away!
