Speed Limits & Following Distance — Florida
Florida permit practice test: 630 free practice questions (Based on the official driver handbook). Official test format: Class E: 50 Q, pass 40 (80%). Speed Limits & Following Distance: 42 questions.
Posted speed limits, school and construction zones, stopping and following distance.
This topic page is still being reviewed against the official handbook. Until review is finished it is hidden from search engines.
| Topic / Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Topic | Speed Limits & Following Distance |
| License test | Florida Car learner's permit test (Class E) |
| Topic questions | 42 (7% of 630 total) |
| Review status | This topic page is still being reviewed against the official handbook. Until review is finished it is hidden from search engines. |
Official handbook
flhsmv.gov ✓ Verified from official source
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Questions (42)
1. You must not drive your vehicle at a speed greater than:
- The maximum speed limit.
- A speed that is faster than is reasonable and prudent.
- A speed that is safe for existing conditions.
- All of the above. ✓
Answer: D. All of the above.
You must not drive faster than the maximum speed limit, faster than is reasonable and prudent, or faster than is safe for existing conditions; all of the above apply. The handbook says posted speed limits show the fastest speed you may drive only under favorable conditions, and you still must adjust your speed to weather, roadway, and traffic. It defines the safest speed as the one that lets you keep complete control and avoid collisions. It also says speeding is against the law and you must obey the limit. That means the posted maximum, a prudent speed, and a speed safe for conditions all apply together, so choosing all of the above is correct.
2. A person who drives much slower than the speed limit:
- Is a very safe driver.
- Always has the right-of-way.
- Should not let following cars pass.
- May create a dangerous driving environment. ✓
Answer: D. May create a dangerous driving environment.
3. Your vehicle's stopping distance increases when stopping:
- On a wet or icy road. ✓
- On paved highways.
- When driving at night.
- All of the above.
Answer: A. On a wet or icy road.
4. A work zone:
- May be moving or stationary. ✓
- Is marked with black and white signs.
- Does not require a driver to slow down and pay extra attention.
- All of the above.
Answer: A. May be moving or stationary.
5. Increase your following distance when:
- Driving behind a large vehicle that blocks your vision.
- Exiting an expressway.
- Following a motorcycle.
- All of the above. ✓
Answer: D. All of the above.
6. You are driving when it begins to rain. You should:
- Drive faster than surrounding traffic.
- Drive at the maximum posted speed limit.
- Slow down. ✓
- Drive closely behind the vehicle in front of you.
Answer: C. Slow down.
When rain starts, slow down, because wet roads make stopping take longer and raise the risk of skidding. The handbook's rain section tells you plainly to slow down when you turn on your wipers. It explains that roads turn slick in rain, especially after a dry spell when oil has built up, and that wet roads lengthen your braking distance. It also warns that speeding makes hydroplaning more likely, and hydroplaning means your tires lose contact with the road and you can lose control. Slowing down is the response that fits all of that.
7. On slippery roads, you should:
- Slow down. ✓
- Drive more quickly.
- Drive the speed limit, with caution.
- Not drive more quickly than 20 mph.
Answer: A. Slow down.
On slippery roads, you should slow down. The handbook's rain section says plainly to slow down, because rain makes roads slick, especially after a dry spell when oil has built up. Wet roads also lengthen the distance you need to stop, so you should leave more room behind the vehicle ahead. The slippery surface sign gives the same advice for wet weather: drive slowly, avoid speeding up or braking quickly, and take turns at slow speeds. Matching your speed to the slippery surface is what keeps your tires gripping instead of sliding.
8. Many crashes are caused by:
- Drivers traveling too fast for conditions. ✓
- Drivers consistently checking their mirrors and blind spots.
- Drivers yielding the right-of-way.
- Drivers maintaining a four-second following distance.
Answer: A. Drivers traveling too fast for conditions.
Many crashes are caused by drivers traveling too fast for conditions. The handbook points to speed as a major factor in crash severity: the faster you drive, the greater the impact or striking power of your vehicle, and doubling your speed makes both braking distance and impact four times greater. That means a driver going too fast for the conditions needs far more room to stop and hits harder when something goes wrong. The safe behaviors described in the handbook, like keeping a four-second following distance, are presented as ways to avoid collisions, not as their cause.
9. Allow a larger space cushion than usual when stopping:
- On an incline. ✓
- At an intersection.
- At a stop sign.
- At a toll plaza.
Answer: A. On an incline.
Leave a bigger space cushion than usual when you stop behind another vehicle on an incline. The handbook's list of situations that call for more following distance includes being stopped behind another vehicle on an incline. The reason it gives is that the vehicle ahead may roll back before it starts moving forward, so the extra room keeps you clear if that happens. The same passage also ties extra space to wet roads, low visibility, being passed, and carrying a heavy load or pulling a trailer.
10. What can you do to avoid the need to make emergency stops while driving in traffic?
- Honk your horn to make others aware of your presence.
- Look ahead and maintain a safe following distance. ✓
- Drive in the right lane only.
- Drive more slowly than the flow of traffic.
Answer: B. Look ahead and maintain a safe following distance.
Look ahead and maintain a safe following distance to avoid needing emergency stops in traffic. The handbook says rear-end collisions are almost always caused by following too closely, and a large enough following distance gives you more time to react. It recommends a minimum four-second following distance in good conditions and more when conditions are bad. In emergency handling, it also says to avoid sudden stops by slowing gradually and smoothly and to know what is happening around you. Looking ahead and keeping space fits that guidance.
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Last checked: 2026-10-17 · Verified from official source
Updated: · Based on the official driver handbook