Driver license the official handbook

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©2017 Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles

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The Official Florida Driver License Handbook—rev. 051417
  
39  
SHARING THE ROAD
Right-of-Way
Right-of-way rules tell you who goes first and who must wait in different 
situations. And while 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.
Sharing the Road with Pedestrians
It is the motorist’s responsibility to do everything possible to avoid colliding 
with a pedestrian (person walking). When in a crosswalk or driveway, 
bicyclists, skaters, and skateboarders are considered pedestrians.
Rules for Motorists
 1.  You must stop or yield for pedestrians crossing a street or driveway at 
any marked crossing, driveway, or intersection.
 2.  You must stop and remain stopped for pedestrians on the sidewalk 
when entering or leaving an alley, driveway, or private road.
 3.  Never block the crosswalk when stopped at a red light. Do not stop 
with any portion of your vehicle overhanging the crosswalk.
 4.  You are not allowed to overtake and pass a vehicle that is stopped at 
a crosswalk to allow a pedestrian to cross the roadway. Florida law 
requires a driver approaching a vehicle from the rear that is stopped at a 
crosswalk to assume that a pedestrian may be crossing, even when none 
can be seen at that moment.
 5.  Come to a complete stop, yield the right-of-way, and use extra caution 
when approaching: 
 
◆
 a pedestrian who is crossing the street and carrying a white cane with 
a red tip or guided by a service animal.
 
◆
 mobility-impaired persons and pedestrians utilizing the assistance of a 
guide dog or service animal.
 
◆
 a pedestrian who is crossing the street is using a walker, a crutch, or 
an orthopedic cane or wheelchair.
  
◆
 children or any obviously confused or incapacitated pedestrian. 
Rules for Pedestrians
 1.  You must not walk on the roadway if a sidewalk is available.
 2.  When walking along a roadway without a sidewalk, always walk on the 
shoulder on the left side, facing traffic.
 3.  Cross the road at intersections or designated crosswalks. Crosswalks at 
intersections may be marked or unmarked. 

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©2017 Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
 4.  You must yield the right-of-way 
to vehicles if you are crossing a 
roadway at any point other than 
within a crosswalk. 
 5.  You must yield the right-of-way 
to vehicles in the crosswalk if 
the crosswalk signal is red or 
displays DON’T WALK. 
Pedestrian Safety Tips
  • Never enter the street from 
between parked cars. Always use 
a crosswalk.
  • Stop at the curb or the edge 
of the road if there is no curb. 
Look left, then right, then left 
again for moving vehicles before 
you step into the street.
  • Be seen. Wear bright, neon, 
reflective colors. Carry a 
flashlight at night. 
  • Don’t text while walking. 
  • Avoid wearing headphones so 
that you can hear the traffic and 
around you.
Sharing the Road with 
Bicycles
In Florida, the bicycle is legally 
defined as a vehicle and has all 
of the privileges, rights, and 
responsibilities on public roads 
(except for expressways) that a 
motor vehicle operator does. 
Bicyclists may ride out of the bike 
lane in the travel lane for their own 
safety due to narrow roads, to avoid 
obstacles or pavement hazards, or 
to prepare for a left turn. A bicyclist 
may use the full lane even while 
traveling substantially below the 
speed of traffic if the lane is too 
narrow for both a car and bicycle to 
share.
Unlike motorists, bicyclists may also 
operate on sidewalks, but they must 
yield to pedestrians on sidewalks 
and in crosswalks.
Rules for Motorists
 1.  Florida law requires that you 
give bicyclists a minimum of 
three feet
 of clearance and use 
caution when driving alongside 
or passing them.
 2.  On a two lane road, pass a 
bicyclist as you would a slow-
moving vehicle, and only when 
it is safe to do so.
 3.  At intersections, always assume 
that bicyclists are traveling 
straight unless they signal 
otherwise. Yield to bicycles 
just as you would to any other 
vehicle.
 4.  When crossing a bike lane 
to make a turn, yield to any 
bicyclist in the bike lane and 
make your turn behind the 
cyclist. 
 5.  Do not follow a bicyclist too 
closely. 
 6.  At night, avoid using high 
beam headlights when you see a 
bicyclist approaching.
 7.  Before opening a car door, 
check for bicyclists who may be 
approaching from behind.
 8.  Avoid honking your horn and 
startling a bicyclist.

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The Official Florida Driver License Handbook—rev. 051417
  
41  
............................................................................................................................... SHARING THE ROAD
Rules for Bicyclists
 1.  You must obey all traffic 
controls and signals.
 2.  If you are not traveling at the 
speed of other traffic, you must 
use the bike lane, and if no bike 
lane is available, you must stay 
on the right-most side of the 
road. 
 3.  You are allowed to use the full 
lane when making a left turn, 
passing, avoiding hazards, or 
when a lane is too narrow for 
you and a car to share it safely.
 4.  When operating a bicycle on a 
one-way street with two or more 
traffic lanes, you may ride on 
the left-hand side of the road.
 5.  You must use directional hand 
signals to show other drivers 
that you are about to turn. (See 
page 29.)
 6.  Never attach yourself or your 
bike to any vehicle on the 
roadway.
 7.  If you are riding on a sidewalk 
or crosswalk, you have all the 
rights and duties as a pedestrian. 
However, you must yield the 
right-of-way to pedestrians and 
must give an audible signal 
before passing pedestrians.
 8.  Between sunset and sunrise, you 
must have a white light visible 
from 500 feet on the front of 
your bicycle and a red reflector 
and a red light visible from 600 
feet on the rear.
 9.  Your bike must have brakes 
which can stop the bike within 
25 feet from a speed of 10 mph.
 10. All bicyclists and passengers 
under age 16 are required to 
wear helmets that meet federal 
safety standards.  
 11. If you are transporting a child 
under age four, or who weighs 
40 pounds or less, you must 
use a backpack/sling, child 
seat, or trailer designed to carry 
children.
 12. You must not leave a child in 
a seat or carrier when you are 
not in immediate control of the 
bicycle.
 13. If you are riding with others, 
you may not ride more than two 
side-by-side unless it is a path or 
part of a roadway reserved for 
bicycles. You must ride single 
file if you and the other rider are 
impeding traffic.
 14. Do not wear headphones/ear-
buds while bicycling on the 
roadway.
 15. Do not ride a bicycle when 
under the influence of alcohol 
or drugs.
Bicyclist Safety Tips
  • No matter your age, wear a 
helmet.
  • Keep both hands on the 
handlebars.
  • On the roadway, check behind 
you before changing lanes or 
moving notably within the lane.
  • Be seen. Wear neon or 
fluorescent colors when riding 
and wear something reflective.
  • Don’t text while biking.

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