Florida's Share the Road Specialty License Plates Fund Motorist and Bicyclist Education

Tips for Motorists re: Cyclists

Please share with those who may not know the proper way to pass a bicycle on the road. Hopefully it will make a commute or other riding experience better for all parties involved.

Many bicyclists have experience riding in traffic and know how to watch out for cars and trucks. Motorists are not generally accustomed to bicyclists and often need tips. These tips include:

Cyclists skills vary. When possible, assess the rider’s capabilities. A safe (experienced?) rider holds a steady line.
Even though a bicyclist’s pace may pose a momentary delay in your schedule, it is important to respect the bicyclist’s safety and legal right to the roadways.
Yield the right of way to the bicyclist as you would a car.
Use extra caution during peak morning and afternoon riding hours.
Keep cool and lay off the horn and flashing headlights, either of which may startle a cyclist.
A moving vehicle creates wind turbulence that can seriously affect a cyclist’s control. When meeting or passing cyclists, slow down and give the widest berth possible. Crosswinds compound the problem for cyclists.
Cyclists worry about road defects you’d never feel in your car. Allow them plenty of room in case they swerve to miss a pothole, storm drain, debris or other obstacle.
Cyclists require extra courtesy while negotiating railroad tracks and narrow bridges.
On a two – lane road, don’t pass a cyclist if oncoming traffic is near.
For safe passing, allow three to five feet of space; add one foot for every 10 mph over 50 mph.
EFFECTIVE 10/1/2006, it's Florida Law to pass cyclists by a minimum of 3 feet.

Tips for Motorists re: Pedestrians

Yielding at traffic signals
(Section 316.075, F.S.)

Before making a right turn on red, the driver of any vehicle must first stop before the crosswalk, and yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian crossing the roadway as directed by the signal.

In making a left or right turn on green, the driver of any vehicle shall yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian crossing the roadway as directed by the signal.

Stopping for pedestrians in crosswalks
(Section 316.130, F.S.)

When traffic signals are not present or not in operation, the driver of a vehicle must yield the right-of-way, slowing or stopping if necessary, to pedestrians crossing within a crosswalk upon the half of the roadway upon which the vehicle is traveling or when the pedestrian is approaching so closely from the opposite half of the roadway as to be in danger.

A driver may not overtake another driver stopped at a marked or unmarked crosswalk. (A pedestrian may be crossing in the crosswalk, hidden from view by the stopped vehicle.)

Stopping at sidewalk before entering roadway
(Section 316.125, F.S.)

The driver of a vehicle emerging from an alley, building, private road or driveway within a business or residence district shall stop the vehicle immediately prior to driving onto a sidewalk or onto the sidewalk area extending across the alley, building entrance, road or driveway, or in the event there is no sidewalk area, shall stop at the point nearest the street to be entered where the driver has a view of approaching traffic thereon and shall yield to all vehicles and pedestrians which are so close thereto as to constitute an immediate hazard.

Driver responsibility to exercise care
(Section 316.130, F.S.)

Notwithstanding other provisions of this chapter, every driver of a vehicle shall exercise due care to avoid colliding with any pedestrian or any person propelling a human-powered vehicle and give warning when necessary and exercise proper precaution upon observing any child or any obviously confused or incapacitated person.

Driving speeds
(Sections 316.183, 316.185, F.S.)

No person shall drive a vehicle on a highway at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the conditions and having regard to the actual and potential hazards then existing. In every event, speed shall be controlled as may be necessary to avoid colliding with any person, or vehicle on or entering the highway in compliance with legal requirements and the duty of all persons to use due care.

The driver of every vehicle shall drive at an appropriately reduced speed when approaching and going around a curve; approaching a hill crest; traveling upon any narrow or winding roadway; and when any special hazard exists with respect to pedestrians or other traffic or by reason of weather or highway conditions.

The fact that a driver is traveling at less than the speed limit does not relieve him of the duty to reduce speed in such conditions. A driver must reduce speed as necessary to avoid colliding with any person legally present on the street.

Traffic regulations to assist blind persons
(Section 316.1301, F.S.)

A driver must come to a stop before reaching a location where a blind pedestrian is crossing, or attempting to cross, a public street or highway. For purposes of this law, a blind pedestrian is a pedestrian guided by a dog guide or carrying in a raised or extended position a white cane (or white cane tipped with red). Before proceeding, the driver must take precautions to avoid injuring the pedestrian.

Nothing contained in this section shall be construed to deprive any totally or partially blind or otherwise incapacitated person not carrying such a cane or walking stick, or not being guided by a dog, of the rights and privileges conferred by law upon pedestrians crossing streets or highways. The failure of any such person to carry a cane or walking stick or to be guided by a dog shall not be considered comparative negligence, nor shall such failure be admissible as evidence in the trial of any civil action with regard to negligence.