Driver license the official handbook

The Official Florida Driver License Handbook—rev. 051417
  
35  
.......................................................................................................................................DRIVING SAFELY
Entering & Leaving Limited Access/Interstate Highways
All limited-access highway entrances have three basic parts: an entrance 
ramp, an acceleration lane, and a merging area. 
When entering an interstate highway:
 1.  On the entrance ramp, begin checking for an opening in traffic. Signal 
your intent to merge onto the expressway.
 2.  Increase your speed as the ramp straightens into the acceleration lane. 
Adjust your speed so that you can safely merge into the traffic when you 
reach the end of the acceleration lane.
 3.  Merge into traffic when you can do so safely. You must yield the right-
of-way to traffic on the highway. Do not stop in the acceleration lane 
unless traffic is too heavy and there is no space for you to enter safely.
When leaving an interstate highway:
 1.  Get into the exit lane. Most exits are from the right lane.
 2.  Activate your turn signal to show your intention to exit.
 3.  Slow down in the deceleration lane. Check the posted safe speed for the 
exit ramp.
 4.  Don’t make last-minute turns into an exit. If you pass your exit, you 
must go to the next one.
Begin
signal
here
Check safe speed
Slow down here
DO NOT 
exit here!
DO NOT 
enter here!
DECELERATION LANE
ACCELERATION LANE
TRAFFIC FLOW
TRAFFIC FLOW
MERGE
RAMP
RAMP
Begin signal
here
Adjust to speed in
acceleration lane 
25
ENTER INTERSTATE HIGHWAY
EXIT INTERSTATE HIGHWAY

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36  
©2017 Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
Interstate Safety Reminders
Plan ahead. Know your exits (they 
match the mile markers on the highway).
Drive in the right lane and pass on the 
left. While in the right lane, watch for 
cars entering the highway. Adjust your 
speed or move over so they can enter 
safely.
Never drive across or park on the 
median.
Never stop on the pavement, shoulder, 
or connecting ramp except in an 
emergency. If your vehicle breaks down, 
you must move it completely off the 
pavement . (No more than six hours.)
Don’t follow too closely. Rear end 
collisions are the greatest danger on 
interstate highways.
Never back up on an entrance ramp or 
exit ramp. The ONLY exception to this 
is if you see a WRONG WAY or DO NOT 
ENTER sign or red reflectors on lane 
lines…you must back up or turn around.
Stop driving when you feel tired. Do not 
risk falling asleep at the wheel.
Obey the “Move Over” law (page 44).
Parking
When parking on a public road, 
move as far away from traffic as 
possible. You must not park more 
than one foot away from the curb. If 
there is a roadside shoulder, pull as 
far onto it as you can. 
Always park on the right side of the 
roadway unless it is a one-way street. 
Set the parking brake and shift to 
Park (automatic transmission) or 
Reverse (manual transmission). Turn 
off the engine and lock the vehicle. 
Florida law requires that you take 
the keys out of your vehicle before 
leaving it. 
Always check traffic around you 
before getting out of the vehicle so 
that you do not open your door into 
a bicyclist or another vehicle. 
Before you drive from any parked 
position, make sure the way is clear. 
Give the proper turn signal before 
pulling away from the curb and 
yield to other traffic. 
Parking Lights 
It is against the law to drive using 
only parking lights (in place of 
headlights). 
Straight-in Parking
When properly parked, the vehicle 
should be centered inside the 
space with no part of the vehicle 
extending out into the traffic lane.
Parking on Hills
 1.  Turn your wheels so that if your 
car starts to move, it will roll 
away from traffic or into the 
curb.
 2.  Set the parking brake. 
 3.  Automatic transmission: put 
gear shift in Park. Manual 
transmission: shift to Reverse 
(downhill) or First (uphill).
 4.  Turn off vehicle.

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The Official Florida Driver License Handbook—rev. 051417
  
37  
.......................................................................................................................................DRIVING SAFELY
It is against the law to park:
  • Crosswalks
  • Sidewalks
  • Bicycle lanes
  • Intersections
  • Bridges
  • Overpasses 
  • Tunnels
  • In front of driveways
  • By yellow painted curbs
  • NO PARKING or DISABLED 
PERMIT ONLY zones
  • On the roadway side of another 
parked vehicle (double parking)
  • On highway pavement not 
marked for parking 
  • Anywhere that blocks or creates 
a hazard for other vehicles
  • Or within:
 
◆
 15 feet of a fire hydrant.
 
◆
 20 feet of an intersection.
 
◆
 20 feet of the entrance to a 
fire, ambulance, or rescue 
station.
 
◆
 30 feet of a rural mail box on 
a state highway (8 am–6 pm).
 
◆
 30 feet of any flashing signal, 
stop sign, or traffic signal.
 
◆
 50 feet of a railroad crossing.
Backing Up
 1.  Check behind your vehicle 
before you get in. Children and 
small objects cannot be seen 
from the driver’s seat. 
 2.  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 rear-
view or side mirrors as you 
cannot see directly behind your 
vehicle. Don’t completely rely 
on cameras/alarms; they don’t 
always detect small children and 
animals. 
 3.  Back slowly; your vehicle is 
much harder to steer while you 
are backing. 
 4.  Whenever possible use a person 
outside the vehicle to help you 
back up.  
Downhill.
Turn wheels
to curb.
Uphill
 with curb.
Turn wheels
from curb.
Uphill
 no curb.
Turn wheels
to right.

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