You are in the left lane of a multi-lane Florida highway when a faster vehicle overtakes you from behind. What does state law require you to do?
-
A.
Hold your speed and stay in the left lane if you are at the posted limit.
-
B.
Match the overtaking vehicle's speed until the road opens up.
-
C.
Pull onto the right shoulder to let the faster vehicle by.
-
D.
Move out of the left lane to let the faster vehicle pass. Correct
The answer is "Move out of the left lane to let the faster vehicle pass."
Florida law tells slower traffic to move out of the left lane when a faster vehicle overtakes you, even if you are already at the posted speed limit. The habit behind A treats the left lane as a place to enforce the limit against faster drivers behind, a role the Florida statute does not give it.
The traps in the wrong answers
A. Hold your speed and stay in the left lane if you are at the posted limit.
Being at the posted limit does not entitle you to hold the left lane; Florida treats it as a passing lane that slower traffic must vacate when overtaken. This answer applies the habit of using the left lane to enforce the speed limit against faster drivers behind you, a role the Florida statute does not give it.
B. Match the overtaking vehicle's speed until the road opens up.
Speeding up to match a faster overtaking vehicle is not required and would push you above the posted limit; the rule tells you to change lanes, not to change speed. This answer borrows the two-lane rule against increasing speed while being passed and reworks it into a duty to keep pace with the overtaker in the left lane.
C. Pull onto the right shoulder to let the faster vehicle by.
On a multi-lane highway, the rule is to leave the left lane for another travel lane when safe, not to drive onto the shoulder to let someone pass. This answer carries over the rural two-lane courtesy of easing onto the shoulder for a passer, a move that does not apply on a multi-lane highway.
This question tests your knowledge of Lane Changes & Merging in Florida. Source: Florida Driver Manual, "Regulatory Signs: Slower Traffic Keep Right," p.48..
Related Florida questions
- Before you move into the left lane to pass another vehicle on a Florida road, what does state law require you to do first? →
- You are on the acceleration lane of a Florida limited access highway. When should you merge into traffic? →
- Under Florida rules for entering a limited access highway, when may you stop in the acceleration lane? →
- A Reduction of Lanes sign warns that the right lane is ending ahead. What does the Florida manual tell drivers in the left lane to do? →
- You are driving in an HOV lane on a Florida highway. Where does state law allow you to enter or exit the HOV lane? →
You just took one Florida question apart. The book does it for the whole test.
The Florida book unlocks a free companion: an adaptive study plan, progress synced across your devices, a denser laminate cheat sheet, and a test-day walkthrough. Verify your copy once, usually in seconds; there's nothing extra to buy.
$18.99 paperback, free companion included.