2008 florida drivers handbook pdf

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Start saving. Why pay more? Menu Login. Watch the 30 second video to learn more! Get your Florida Driver's Handbook in the following formats:. Check out the other versions of the Florida Driver's Handbook:.

Pass your Florida learners permit exam using our easy and comprehensive online Learner's Permit Practice Tests. Forfeiting bail and not going to court to avoid being convicted of reckless driving counts the same as a conviction.

Three points will be deducted from the driver record of any person whose driving privilege has been suspended only once under the point system and has been reinstated, if such person has complied with all other requirements.

NOTE: A point suspension does not prohibit these convictions from being used to accumulate additional suspensions or revocations. It includes the use of traffic infraction enforcement officers, the mailing of an initial notice of violation within 30 days of the offense 19 and mailing a traffic citation within 60 days if payment has not been received. If additional points are accumulated the restriction is extended for 90 days for every additional point received.

A licensed driver Class E or higher who is 17 years of age may not operate a motor vehicle between a. Any driver under 21 with a breath or blood alcohol level of. An evaluation will be completed and parents or legal guardians will be notified of the results for all drivers under the age of Imprisonment 4.

Controlled substances include: prescription drugs, depressants, stimulants, narcotics, hallucinogens and model glue or other inhalants. At the time of arrest, you will be administratively suspended if you have a breath or blood alcohol level of. No one can drink alcohol and drive safely, even if you have been driving for many years.

Young drivers are more affected by alcohol because their bodies are still in the growth process and their livers have not developed to the extent that they can efficiently process the alcohol in their blood stream. Because drinking alcohol and then driving is so dangerous, the penalties are very tough.

People who drive after drinking risk heavy fines, higher insurance rates, loss of license and 20 even jail sentences. A DUI conviction will remain on your driving record for 75 years. Alcohol is absorbed into the lining of the stomach and then passes directly into the bloodstream and reaches your brain within minutes after consumption. Alcohol affects those areas of your brain that control judgment and skill and is one reason why drinking alcohol is so dangerous; it affects your judgment.

A person's judgment is the first thing affected after drinking an alcoholic beverage. Good judgment is important to driving but in this case, judgment helps you to know when to stop drinking. Alcohol puts good judgment on hold. You do not know when you have had too much to drink until it is too late.

It is a little like a sunburn, by the time you feel it, it is already too late. Alcohol slows your reflexes and reaction time, reduces your ability to see clearly and makes you less alert.

As the amount of alcohol in your body increases, your judgment worsens and your skills decrease. You will have trouble judging distances, speeds and the movement of other vehicles. You will also have trouble controlling your vehicle. The best advice is, if you drink alcohol, do not drive. Even one drink of alcohol can affect your driving. With two or more drinks in your bloodstream you are impaired and could be arrested.

It takes about an hour for your body to get rid of each drink. Time is the only thing that will sober you up. There are ways of dealing with social situations. Arrange to go with two or more persons and agree which one of you will not drink alcohol.

You can rotate among the group being a "designated driver. By law, if you drive in Florida, you have agreed by signing your driver license to take these tests if asked.

If you refuse to take the tests when asked, your license will automatically be suspended for one year. A second refusal will result in an 18 month suspension and is a second degree misdemeanor. In DUI cases involving death or serious injury, you will be required to take the blood test without your consent. The blood must be drawn by a doctor, nurse or other health professional.

If you are unconscious and cannot refuse the blood test, blood may be drawn. The results of the test may be used as evidence, even if you object after becoming conscious. These drugs can have effects like those of alcohol, or even worse. This is true of many prescription drugs and even many of the drugs you can buy without a prescription.

Drugs taken for headaches, colds, hay fever or other allergies or those to calm nerves can make a person drowsy and affect their driving. Pep pills, "uppers" and diet pills can cause a person to be nervous, dizzy, and unable to concentrate and can affect his or her vision. Other prescription drugs can affect your reflexes, judgment, vision and alertness in ways similar to alcohol. If you are driving, check the label before you take a drug for warnings about its effects.

If you are not sure it is safe to take the drug and drive, ask your doctor or pharmacist about any side effects. Never drink alcohol while you are taking other drugs. These drugs could multiply the effects of alcohol or have additional effects of their own.

These effects not only reduce your ability to be a safe driver but could cause serious health problems, even death. Illegal and some legal drugs may affect your ability to be a safe driver. For example, studies have shown that people who use marijuana make more mistakes, have more trouble adjusting to glare, and get arrested for traffic violations more than other drivers.

You may not be able to drive well if you are overly worried, excited, afraid, angry or depressed. If necessary take a short walk, but stay off the road until you have calmed down. Some find listening to the radio helps.

Leave a few minutes early. If you have plenty of time, you may not tend to speed or do other things that can get you a traffic ticket or cause a crash. Don't be impatient. Wait for a train to cross in front of you. Driving around lowered gates or trying to beat the train can be fatal. Any changes must be made by the Department. Unlawful use of your license, including allowing your license to be used by another person.

Having more than one Florida driver license. Allowing an unlicensed person to use your car, or renting a motor vehicle to someone without a license. Giving false statements to an officer or in a courtroom. Knowingly giving false information in crash reports. Failing to make crash reports. For eligibility information, contact the local Bureau of Administrative Reviews office, driver license office, Tax Collector licensing agent, or the Customer Service Center.

If you are administratively suspended for a breath or blood alcohol level of. This suspension is in addition to any penalties directed by the court. In addition, if you are the driver or the owner of a vehicle which is in a crash that is your fault, this department can require you to pay for the damages before your driving privilege is reinstated. Under this law, to protect yourself and others, you should have liability insurance on any motor vehicle you own or drive, including motorcycles.

It is important that you understand these laws because if you do not have the proper insurance, you can lose your driver license and license plate s and have to pay large fees to get them back. This law requires any person to have bodily injury liability insurance at the time of the following: 1. A citation for DUI, which results in a revocation. You will have to pay a reinstatement fee and show the department certified proof of full liability insurance on Form FR for three years from the original suspension date to get your driving privilege back.

A suspension for excessive points against your driver license. A crash where you are at fault and injuries have occurred. A revocation for Habitual Traffic Offender. A revocation for any serious offense where this department is required to revoke your license. Once you have this insurance, anytime you renew it, fail to renew it, cancel it, or the insurance company cancels, the insurance company must notify this department.

The department will then notify you to provide proof of new coverage. If you fail to provide proof of insurance, your driver license and license plate s will be suspended for up to three years. You must maintain insurance coverage throughout the vehicle registration period or you must surrender the license plate s to any driver license office.

If you are cited by a law enforcement officer for not providing proof of insurance and pay the civil penalty or are convicted in court, your driving privilege will be suspended. Also, if your driver license and plate s have been under suspension for 30 days or more for a no-fault insurance violation, a police officer can seize your license plate immediately.

To prevent an insurance suspension of your license and avoid reinstatement fees, turn in your license plate to a Florida driver license or Tax Collector office prior to canceling your insurance. Card from your insurance company.

You must have this card ready to show to any law enforcement officer to prove that you have the required insurance. If not, you may receive a ticket for not having proof of insurance. If your driver license or license plate s are suspended for not obeying either of these laws, you cannot get a temporary license for any reason, not even for work purposes only.

Any person who makes a false statement or commits forgery about their motor vehicle insurance can be guilty of a second degree misdemeanor. The Department will always provide you with an opportunity to prove insurance coverage or be heard before being suspended.

How to comply: 1. By purchasing a motor vehicle insurance policy from a company licensed to do business in Florida. By obtaining a Financial Responsibility Certificate from the Bureau of Motorist Compliance after posting a satisfactory surety bond of a company licensed to do business in Florida. By obtaining a Financial Responsibility Certificate from the Bureau of Motorist Compliance by depositing cash or securities with the Department.

By obtaining a Self Insurance Certificate from the Bureau of Motorist Compliance by providing satisfactory evidence of possessing a net unencumbered capital. Remember: Automobile insurance is an important part of your driving privilege. Protect yourself and others by having and keeping the proper insurance coverage. The officer will provide you with a copy of the form for your records.

If you cannot move it yourself, you must get help or call a tow truck. This is true anytime your vehicle is blocking the flow of traffic whether it has been involved in a crash or not. Appear In Court If you are charged in a crash, you may have to go to court.

The officer who comes to the scene of the crash will file charges against any driver who violated a traffic law. Anyone who is charged will have a chance to explain to the court what happened. The court will then decide what the penalty is. Anyone who is not charged with violating the law may have to come to court as a witness.

If you are found at fault in a collision where anyone is injured and transported to a medical treatment facility or it is your second collision in a two-year period, you will be required by law to attend a Traffic Collision Avoidance Course. The traffic school that conducts this course can be found in the yellow pages of your local telephone book under Driving Instruction. A driver convicted of leaving the scene of a crash involving death or personal injury will have his or her license revoked.

The driver is also subject to criminal penalties. Crash Involving an Unattended Vehicle If, while driving, you hit a vehicle with no one in it or if you damage any object that belongs to someone else, you must tell the owner.

Give the owner your name, address, and tag number in person or in a note that is easily seen. Report the crash immediately to the proper law enforcement agency. The department notifies you of this requirement based on a qualifying third at fault crash occurring on or after January 1, Receive 4-hours of behind-the-wheel training from a Florida licensed commercial driving school CDS.

Pass the extended road test with a DL examiner or Tax Collector licensing agent. Stop If you are in a crash while driving, you must stop. If anyone is hurt, you must get help. You must also be ready to give your name, address, and vehicle registration number, as well as show your driver license to others involved in the crash. Report the Crash If the crash causes injury, death, or property damage, it must be reported. If the crash involves a charge of driving under the influence DUI or results in death, injury, or property damage to the extent a wrecker must tow a vehicle, the officer will fill out a report.

If the crash is investigated by an officer, the driver need not make a written report. Use ash trays for cigarettes and litter bags for trash while riding in motor vehicles. Empty ashtrays and litter bags only into trash cans. The court may also require you to pick up litter along roadways. What would happened to a person that did not stop to give help when the vehicle they are driving is involved in a crash causing death or personal injury? See section 4.

If you receive twelve points within twelve months, for how long will your license be suspended? When can you be charged with driving under the influence DUI? Both your judgment and vision are affected after drinking alcohol.

Which is affected first? What are the penalties for failing to take a blood test, a urine test, or a breath test? When must you comply with the Financial Responsibility Law Prove you are insured with bodily injury liability insurance?

What type of insurance must you have on motor vehicles with four or more wheels? If you hit a parked car and are unable to find the owner, what should you do? After a crash has been investigated by an officer, does the driver need to send a written report to the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles?

What are the penalties for littering? When driving, you must make sure that nothing interferes with your ability to see the road, react to situations or operate your vehicle properly. You must look down the road, to the sides and behind your vehicle and be alert for unexpected events. Be alert to what is going on around you and do not take your eyes off the road for more than a few seconds at any one time. Do not have objects inside your vehicle that might interfere with your ability to drive safely.

This might include objects that obstruct your view of the road or mirrors. Use these defensive driving tips if you see that you are about to be involved in a crash: It is better to swerve right instead of toward oncoming traffic to prevent a crash.

Hitting a row of bushes is better than hitting a tree, post or solid object. Hitting a vehicle moving in the same direction as you are is better than hitting a vehicle head-on.

It is better to drive off the road than skid off when avoiding a crash. It is better to hit something that is not moving instead of a vehicle moving toward you. Children or small objects cannot be seen from the driver's seat. Place your right arm on the back of the seat and turn around so that you can look directly through the rear window. Do not depend on your rearview or side mirrors as you cannot see directly behind your vehicle.

Back slowly; your vehicle is much harder to steer while you are backing. Whenever possible use a person outside the vehicle to help you back up. Some drivers can develop bad habits that can be very dangerous when driving.

Driving while eating and drinking. Driving while calling, answering, talking or texting on a mobile phone. Reading while driving. Driving while drowsy or fatigued. Here are some things you can do to lower the risk of someone running into the rear of your vehicle.

Know what is going on around you. Use your rearview mirrors. Signal well in advance for turns, stops and lane changes. Slow down gradually. Avoid any sudden actions. Drive with the flow of traffic within the speed limit. Driving too slowly can be as dangerous as driving too fast.

To avoid striking the vehicle in the front of you, keep at least two seconds following distance. This is accomplished by using the two-second rule. Information for the two-second rule is found under the section, Minimum Safe Following Distances.

Remove anything that blocks your view of the road. You should not have to lean forward or backward to use them. Ask all passengers to do the same. Never move your car until you have looked in front, behind and to the side for pedestrians and oncoming traffic.

Then, signal and pull into traffic when safe. The course teaches ways of keeping crashes from happening. One driver can sign up, or a group can request a class. Consult your yellow pages under Driving Instruction for the location nearest you.

You will change your driving to fit the weather conditions, the way you feel, and the actions of other drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians. Follow these steps to avoid crashes: 1. Look for possible danger. Think about what might happen. If there are children playing by the road, plan what you will do if one runs or rides into the street. Understand what can be done to prevent a crash.

See the defensive driving tips which follow and the Handling Emergencies section later in this chapter. Act in time. Once you have seen a dangerous situation, 5. The seat belt law applies to passenger cars manufactured beginning with the model year, and trucks beginning with the model year. It is unlawful for any person to operate a vehicle in this state unless every passenger of the 25 vehicle under the age of 18 is restrained by a safety belt or by a child restraint device, regardless of seating position.

A seat belt violation will be charged to the driver when a person under 18 is not restrained by a safety belt or a child restraint device.

If the passenger is 18 years of age or older and fails to wear a seat belt when required by law, the passenger will be charged with the violation. Employee of a newspaper home delivery service while delivering newspapers on home delivery routes.

School buses. Buses used for transportation of persons for compensation. Farm equipment. Trucks of a net weight of more than 26, pounds. Motorcycle, moped or bicycle. Children should be secured in the rear seat. Never secure a child in the front passenger side, especially if your vehicle has an air bag.

The law requires every driver to properly secure children five years of age or younger in child restraint devices riding in a passenger car, van, or pick-up truck, regardless of whether the vehicle is registered in this state.

For children aged four through five years of age, a separate carrier, an integrated child seat or a seat belt may be used. All infant carriers and car seats must be crash-tested and approved by the U. Children being carried or riding bicycles should wear properly fitted bicycle helmets. The one that fits your vehicle. The one that you will use correctly every time. 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. The risk of death is five times greater if you are thrown from a vehicle in a crash. Keep you from being thrown against others in the vehicle.

Keep the driver behind the wheel, where he or she can control the vehicle. Keep you from being thrown against parts of your vehicle, such as the steering wheel or windshield. Any person violating this law has committed a misdemeanor of the second degree. Violations of this law causing great bodily harm, permanent disability, or permanent disfigurement to the child commits a felony of the third degree.

Safety Belts Save Lives! Wear a lap belt around your hips, not your stomach. Fasten the belt snugly. Wear a shoulder belt only with a lap belt.

More than half of the crashes that cause injury or death happen at speeds less than 40 MPH and within 25 miles from home. Do not leave children unattended or unsupervised in a motor vehicle. On a hot summer day, the interior of a car can get dangerously hot. One study found that with the windows up and the temperature outside at 94 degrees, the inside of a car could be degrees in just half an hour, or degrees after an hour. The number one killer of young children in the United States is traffic crashes in which children were not restrained at all.

Over 90 percent of the deaths and 80 percent of the injuries 5. More drivers are convicted of speeding than any other offense. To avoid being fined or involved in a crash, obey the speed limits. Speed is very important in a collision. If you double the speed of a car, you 26 increase its force of impact four times. If you triple the speed, the impact is nine times as great. You are responsible for adjusting your driving speed to the road conditions.

For example, if the weather is bad or there is a lot of traffic, you must drive more slowly than the posted speed. The safe speed is the one that allows you to have complete control of your vehicle and avoid collisions with other vehicles and pedestrians. Drive at the slowest speed just before entering the intersection, not while crossing.

Do not pass or change lanes. Be aware of vehicles behind you. Will they be able to stop if necessary? If you are stopped, look for bicyclists and pedestrians who may be crossing the intersection from either direction or motorists on the cross street who may be passing a bicycle or other vehicle and be in the opposing lane.

The answer is no one! The law only says who must yield give up the right-of-way. Every driver, motorcyclist, moped rider, bicyclist and pedestrian must do everything possible to avoid a crash. Move forward only when the road is clear. At four-way stops, the first vehicle to stop should move forward first.

If two vehicles reach the intersection at the same time, the driver on the left yields to the driver on the right. Speed limits may be changed on other multi-lane highways and in areas where the conditions require lower speeds. Drivers should not assume because the area appears to be a particular urban, municipality, business or highway area that the speed is the standard or expected speed zone. Observe and obey the posted speed signs as there may be frequent changes from area to area along the selected roads or highways.

Speed limit signs are posted at the beginning of a speed zone and drivers must be driving no higher than that speed starting at the location of the posted sign and continuing until there is a posted speed limit change. You should not drive so slowly that you block other vehicles moving at normal, safe speeds.

When driving slower than the flow of traffic, keep right so others may safely pass. You can be issued a ticket for driving too slowly. When the posted speed limit is 70 mph, the minimum speed limit is 50 mph. When two cars enter an open intersection at the same time, the driver on the left must yield to the driver on the right.

Roundabouts slow vehicle speed, give drivers more time to judge and react to other vehicles or pedestrians. Drivers entering the roundabout must yield to traffic already in the circle and are directed in one-way, counterclockwise direction.

For multilane roundabouts, stay in the left lane to turn left and the right lane to turn right, and all lanes to go through, unless otherwise directed by signs or pavement markings.

Stay in your lane within the roundabout and use your right turn signal to indicate your intention to exit. Turn off your engine. Reduce your headlights to the parking light position at night. Sit calmly and follow the instructions of the officer. You must follow any lawful order or direction of 1 any law enforcement officer or 2 any fireman at the scene of a fire who is directing traffic.

If a law enforcement officer is directing traffic where there are signal lights, obey the officer - not the signals. Be very careful when approaching any intersection or driveway.

Bicyclists may take the lane in the roundabout, or use the sidewalk. Pull over to the closest edge of the roadway immediately and stop until the emergency vehicle has passed. Do not block intersections.

Always scan for pedestrians before starting a left turn. Yield to pedestrians who may be crossing in your path when turning left. Only turn left when the path is clear of pedestrians, bicyclists and vehicles. Make the turn, staying in the proper lane. Yield the rightof-way to vehicles including bicycles coming from the opposite direction or vehicles lawfully passing on the left.

Finish your turn in the proper lane. A right turn should be from the right lane into the right lane of the roadway entered. A left turn may be completed in any lane lawfully available, or safe, for the desired direction of travel. See the diagrams for making left turns from or into one-way streets. If you reach an intersection where you wish to make a right or left turn and are not in the proper lane, you should drive to the next intersection. Then make the turn from the proper lane.

There are nine steps in making a good turn: 1. Make up your mind about your turn before you get to the turning point. Turn signals are required when changing lanes. Never make "last minute" turns. If you must change lanes, look behind and to both sides to see where other vehicles are located before making your turn. Move into the correct lane as you near the intersection. The correct lane for the right turn is the lane next to the right edge of the roadway.

On a two-lane road with traffic in both directions, an approach for a left turn should be made in the part of the right half of the roadway nearest the center line. Give a turn signal for at least the last feet before you make your turn. Let other drivers know what you are going to do. Be sure that the drivers around you have time to see your signal before you move. Slow down to a safe turning speed. When you are slowing to make a right turn, the bicyclist you passed may be catching up to you.

Search over your shoulder before turning. Yield to bicyclists and pedestrians. After checking that traffic is clear, look in the direction of travel to avoid colliding with a vehicle or pedestrian in front of you. Sometimes you will need to turn your car around in a very small space. To make a three-point turn: 1. Move as far right as possible, check traffic, and signal a left turn. Turn the steering wheel sharply to the left and move forward slowly.

Stop at the curb, or edge of roadway. Shift to reverse, turn your wheels sharply to the right, check traffic, and back your vehicle to the right curb, or edge of roadway.

You can now move in the opposite direction. Check the traffic and move forward. Never make a three-point turn or a U-turn on a curve, a hill or when a sign indicates that making a U-turn is prohibited.

Turn signals are required by law when changing lanes or overtaking a vehicle. You should use your turn signals to indicate your intention with sufficient time to allow other drivers around you to see your signal BEFORE you move. 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. If the road has four or more lanes with two-way traffic, drive in the right lanes except when overtaking and 28 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. Some roads have lanes reserved for bicycles. Motorized vehicles are not allowed to drive in bike lanes, except at intersections where indicated by broken white lines, and only when no bicyclists are present in the bike lane.

Other parked or stopped vehicles can create vision blockage obscuring the presence of pedestrians crossing the road or cyclists sharing the roadway. If another vehicle has stopped in an adjacent lane in the same direction of travel, be observant in case the other motorist has stopped for a pedestrian or disabled vehicle. Help other drivers pass you safely. Move to the right side of your lane to give them more room and a better view of the road ahead.

Before you move sideways to change lanes on an expressway or to pass on any road, turn your head to make sure these areas are clear. Areas bordered by Xs are blind spots for a car with an outside mirror on the left side only. Speed up or drop back so the other driver can see you. The closer you get to the vehicle you want to pass, the less you can see ahead.

This is especially true when passing trucks, trailers, and other large vehicles. Before you pull out to pass, check your blind spots and make sure that you have plenty of time and room to pass. On a two-lane road, tap your horn, or at night blink your headlights to let the other driver know you are passing.

Give your signal before you move into the left lane. Do not return to the right side of the road until you can see the tires of the vehicle you passed in your rearview mirror. You must return to the right side of the road before coming within feet of any vehicle coming from the opposite direction.

Passing on the right is only legal when there are two or more lanes of traffic moving in the same direction or the vehicle you are passing is making a left turn. The prohibition of passing in a noPassing zone does not apply when an obstruction exists making it necessary to drive to the left of the center of the highway [s Where a solid yellow line is painted on your side of the center line.

The Florida Vehicle Code covers topics ranging from driver's licenses, vehicle registrations, and titles, to accident procedures and FL traffic laws. The Vehicle Code is helpful for researching specific Florida laws and regulations because it offers more details about traffic laws than the Florida driver's handbook.

This can be particularly helpful if you're fighting a traffic ticket. However, if you're a new driver or new to Florida, start with a driver's handbook or DMV manual to learn general driving principles and as a Florida road rules and regulations guide.

Don't Forget an Online Practice Test! Topics in the Commercial Driver's Manual In the Florida commercial driving manual, you'll find instructions for operating commercial vehicles, such as: Pre-trip inspection test, including special rules for specific vehicles. Safe driving rules e. Air brakes e. You'll also learn about transporting special items. The Florida CDL driver's handbook covers: Cargo transportation safety securing cargo, weights and balancing, and inspections.

Passenger transportation safety , including loading, prohibited actions, and use of brake-door interlocks. Hazardous materials loading, unloading, and emergencies. Finally, the FL commercial driver's manual explains the rules and regulations of commercial licenses, including: An introduction to commercial driver's licenses CDLs , including disqualifications and required tests.