Florida · Handbook chapter 7 · 3 min read

Florida advice for animals on the road, smoke, fog and heavy rain, hydroplaning and wet brakes, flooded roads, and the headlight rules for driving at night.

Why this chapter matters

Florida's sudden storms, wildfire smoke and dark rural roads catch out new drivers. The exam tests the headlight distances and what to do in fog, rain and floods.

Animals

• Animals are most active at dawn and dusk. Deer crashes peak from October to December.
• Watch the roadside for eyes reflecting your headlights, especially near woods, water and animal crossing signs.
• If an animal is ahead, slow down, tap your brakes and sound your horn. Deer often freeze in headlights.
• If a collision cannot be avoided, do not swerve. Swerving into oncoming traffic or off the road can be worse than hitting the animal. Keep control and stay on the road.
• Report a crash with a large animal, such as a bear, deer or farm animal, to law enforcement.

Low visibility: smoke, fog and heavy rain

• Headlights are required; parking lights alone do not count.
• Use low beams. High beams bounce off fog and make it harder to see.
• Turn on your headlights whenever you use your wipers.
• Use the right edge line and center line as guides, cut distractions and watch for slow or parked cars.

Rain

• Slow down. Roads are most slippery when rain first falls after a dry spell, because oil rises to the surface.
• Wet roads increase stopping distance, so increase your following distance.
• Hydroplaning happens when your tires ride on a film of water and lose contact with the road. Worn tread, low tire pressure and speed all raise the risk.
• Wet brakes may pull to one side or not hold. Slow down and press the brake gently until they work again.
• Never drive into a flooded road. You cannot judge the depth or the current. Turn around and find another way.

Night driving

Florida law requires you to:

• use headlights from sunset to sunrise;
• dim your high beams within 500 feet of an oncoming vehicle;
• dim your high beams within 300 feet of a vehicle you are following;
• never drive on parking lights alone;
• use parking lights when parked on a road or shoulder at night outside cities and towns.

Good habits after dark:

• Do not overdrive your headlights: drive slowly enough to stop within the distance you can see. High beams show about 450 feet and work best above 25 mph.
• Drive slowly after leaving a brightly lit area while your eyes adjust.
• Do not stare at oncoming headlights. Look toward the right edge line and glance up to check the other car.
• If a car with one headlight approaches, keep well to the right; it could be a car, not a motorcycle.