When passing a vehicle stopped on the side of the road, drivers should:
- Increase their speed.
- Vacate the lane closest to the stationary vehicle or slow down. ✓
- Pull off the road behind the stationary vehicle.
- Move to the lane closest to the stationary vehicle.
Answer: B. Vacate the lane closest to the stationary vehicle or slow down.
When passing a vehicle stopped on the side of the road, you should vacate the lane closest to it or slow down.
Why this is the answer
The Florida handbook's move-over rule says that on a multi-lane road you must leave the lane closest to a stopped police, emergency, tow, sanitation, or utility vehicle, and signal before changing lanes. If you cannot move over safely, you must slow to 20 MPH below the posted limit. On a two-lane road you must slow to that same reduced speed, or to 5 MPH when the limit is 20 MPH or less. That makes leaving the near lane or slowing down the right response.
Why the other answers are wrong
- A. Increase their speed. — Increasing your speed is wrong because the handbook calls for leaving the near lane or slowing down, not passing faster.
- C. Pull off the road behind the stationary vehicle. — Pulling off the road behind the stationary vehicle is not what the handbook directs; you should move away from the near lane or slow down, not stop behind it.
- D. Move to the lane closest to the stationary vehicle. — Moving into the lane closest to the stationary vehicle is the opposite of the rule, which says to vacate that lane or slow down.
Remember it
Think "leave the near lane, or ease off the gas" when a vehicle is stopped on the shoulder.
Official handbook: Florida Driver License Handbook (FLHSMV), 7. Driving Safety – Parking, p. 65