When driving past a vehicle that has just stopped in a parked position on the side of the road, you should:
- Assume that the driver will open the car door as you approach. ✓
- Speed up.
- Slam on your brakes.
- Assume that the driver will wait for you to pass before opening the door.
Answer: A. Assume that the driver will open the car door as you approach.
When you pass a vehicle that has just stopped in a parked position, assume the driver will open the car door as you approach.
Why this is the answer
The handbook tells drivers getting out of a parked car to check traffic first so they don't open a door into a bicyclist or another vehicle. That instruction exists because doors do swing open into the roadway, and a driver stepping out may not look carefully. So when you go past a car that just stopped, plan on the door opening and give yourself room to react, instead of trusting the driver to wait for you.
Why the other answers are wrong
- B. Speed up. — Speeding up gives you less time to respond if a door swings out or the driver steps into your path.
- C. Slam on your brakes. — Slamming on your brakes is a sudden, uncontrolled move that can cause a crash behind you; the handbook describes braking softly when the car is under control.
- D. Assume that the driver will wait for you to pass before opening the door. — Waiting for you to pass is exactly what you cannot count on, since the handbook has to remind people to check traffic before opening a door.
Remember it
Treat a freshly parked car like a door about to swing: leave space and cover the brake as you go by.
Official handbook: Florida Driver License Handbook (FLHSMV), 7. Driving Safety – Parking, p. 65