Move Over Law and emergency vehicles

Key points

1. On a multi-lane road, vacate the lane closest to a stopped law enforcement, emergency, tow, sanitation or utility vehicle.

   Source: Handbook p. 65

   “You must vacate the lane closest to the stationary law enforcement, emergency vehicle, tow truck, sanitation, or utility vehicle.”
   Official Florida Driver License Handbook, Handbook p. 65

2. If you cannot move over safely, slow to 20 MPH below the posted limit.

   Source: Handbook p. 65

   “If you cannot move over safely, you must slow down to a speed of 20 MPH below the posted speed limit.”
   Official Florida Driver License Handbook, Handbook p. 65

3. On a two-lane road, slow to 20 MPH below the limit. If the limit is 20 MPH or less, travel at 5 MPH.

   Source: Handbook p. 65

   “On a Two-Lane Roadway ◆ You must slow down to 20 MPH below the posted speed limit. ◆ If the speed limit is 20 MPH or less, you must travel at 5 MPH.”
   Official Florida Driver License Handbook, Handbook p. 65

4. The law also protects disabled vehicles showing hazard lights, flares or signs, or with people visibly present.

   Source: Handbook p. 65

   “It also protects disabled motor vehicles that are stopped and displaying warning lights/hazard lights, using emergency flares or signage or where one or more persons are visibly present.”
   Official Florida Driver License Handbook, Handbook p. 65

5. Yield the right of way to law enforcement, fire engines and other emergency vehicles using sirens or flashing lights.

   Source: Handbook p. 84

   “Motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians must yield the right-of-way to law enforcement vehicles, fire engines, and other emergency vehicles using sirens or flashing lights.”
   Official Florida Driver License Handbook, Handbook p. 84

6. Pull over to the closest edge of the road and stop until the emergency vehicle passes. Do not block intersections.

   Source: Handbook p. 84

   “Pull over to the closest edge of the roadway immediately and stop until the emergency vehicle has passed. Do not block intersections.”
   Official Florida Driver License Handbook, Handbook p. 84

7. During a traffic stop, turn off your engine and audio devices and stay in your vehicle unless the officer tells you to exit.

   Source: Handbook p. 75

   “Turn off your engine and any audio devices. 3. Stay in your vehicle unless directed by the officer to exit.”
   Official Florida Driver License Handbook, Handbook p. 75

Numbers to know

3 questions from the Florida practice test

1. 1. On a multi-lane Florida roadway, what must you do when approaching a stationary authorized vehicle displaying warning lights?

   1. Vacate the lane closest to it, or slow 20 MPH below the posted limit if moving over is unsafe
   2. Stop in the lane immediately beside it
   3. Pass without changing lanes if your speed is already safe
   4. Move into the closest lane and maintain the posted limit
   Show answer

   Vacate the lane closest to it, or slow 20 MPH below the posted limit if moving over is unsafe. Florida's Move Over rule requires a driver on a multi-lane roadway to vacate the lane closest to the stationary covered vehicle. If changing lanes cannot be done safely, the alternative is to slow to 20 MPH below the posted speed limit. Stopping beside the vehicle is not the stated response, and passing at the existing limit ignores the protection required for people working or stranded at the roadside.

2. 2. If the speed limit is 20 MPH or less on a two-lane road beside a protected stopped vehicle, what speed must you use?

   1. 10 MPH
   2. 15 MPH
   3. The posted speed limit
   4. 5 MPH
   Show answer

   5 MPH. The special low-speed rule applies when the posted limit is 20 MPH or less. Travel at 5 MPH rather than subtracting 20 from the sign, which could produce an impossible or negative result. The 10 MPH option still exceeds the handbook figure, and keeping the posted limit ignores the protection the rule provides. Use the road sign to identify the condition, then choose the fixed five-mile-per-hour speed when the limit is 20 or below.

3. 3. What should a Florida driver do when an emergency vehicle approaches using sirens or flashing lights?

   1. Follow it closely through the intersection
   2. Stop in the center of the roadway
   3. Pull to the closest edge of the roadway and stop until it passes
   4. Continue normally if the vehicle is in another lane
   Show answer

   Pull to the closest edge of the roadway and stop until it passes. Florida directs motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians to yield to emergency vehicles using sirens or flashing lights. The response is to pull immediately to the closest roadway edge and remain stopped until the vehicle passes. Blocking an intersection can obstruct the emergency route, and staying in the center or continuing normally fails to yield. The cue is edge, stop, wait, then resume only after the emergency vehicle is clear.

Source: the Official Florida Driver License Handbook, Driving Safety. This lesson is a plain English summary, not the law itself; where it differs, the manual and the statute govern. Last checked 2026-09-27.