Florida Class E Knowledge ExamFlorida Road RulesHard
You are driving on a road with a posted speed limit of 45 mph. Your vehicle has a mechanical issue that prevents you from safely traveling faster than 30 mph. What is your legal obligation if you are impeding the normal flow of traffic?
- AYou should signal left continuously to warn drivers that you are slow.
- BYou are permitted to drive in the left-most lane to avoid being tailgated.
- CYou must activate your hazard lights and continue driving at 30 mph.
- DYou are required to pull over to the right and allow following traffic to pass.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: D. You are required to pull over to the right and allow following traffic to pass.
Florida law states that if you are driving at a speed that impedes the normal and reasonable movement of traffic, you must pull off the roadway at the first safe opportunity and allow the traffic to pass. This applies even if you are driving at a reduced speed due to mechanical issues.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Signaling left continuously is incorrect and could be misinterpreted as a left turn.
- B. Driving in the left-most lane while impeding traffic is illegal and unsafe; the left lane is generally for passing or faster traffic.
- C. While hazard lights are good for warning, simply continuing to impede traffic is illegal if there's an opportunity to pull over.
Impeding Traffic Law (FL)
Drivers traveling slower than the normal flow of traffic, who are impeding it, must pull over to the right at the first safe opportunity to allow others to pass.
- Applies regardless of posted speed limit if you're slower than traffic flow.
- Must pull over to the right as soon as safely possible.
- Failure to do so is a traffic infraction.
- Helps prevent road rage and accidents.
Memory trick: If you're a 'Turtle' on the road, 'Pull Over' to the side to 'Unload' the traffic.