Breaking Down Florida's New Driving Laws in 2024
With the start of the new year, Florida drivers can expect a few changes on the road. That’s because one new traffic law recently went into effect, and another could soon be on the way. In both cases, the laws are intended to prevent car accidents caused by drivers who don’t share the road with highway vehicles and disabled vehicles parked along the side of the road.
Florida’s ‘Move Over’ traffic law goes into effect
Unofficially known as the “Move Over” law, House Bill (HB) 425 went into effect on January 1st of this year. The new law revised the rules and regulations in Florida governing emergency vehicles or disabled vehicles parked along the side of the road.
Previously, drivers approaching an emergency vehicle (ambulances, police cars, fire trucks, etc.) parked alongside the road were required to move over or slow down to 20 mph if they could not safely move over on the road. Drivers were not required to move over for other disabled vehicles alongside the road.
Under HB 425, Florida drivers must now move over if they are approaching any disabled vehicle parked alongside the road. This includes emergency vehicles and all other vehicles with flashing hazard lights parked alongside a road, according to a news story published by the Tallahassee Democrat.
How common are collisions caused by drivers who don’t move over?
The main reason why Florida passed the new law is because of the large number of car accidents caused by drivers who failed to move over. Between Jan. 4, 2015, and Nov. 23, 2023, drivers who did not move over on the road caused 1,696 car accidents in Florida, according to accident statistics from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) cited by the Tallahassee Democrat. Those accidents resulted in 8 deaths and 128 serious injuries.
Florida’s ‘Left Lane’ traffic law on the horizon
Along with the “Move Over” law, Florida lawmakers are considering adopting another law known as the “Left Lane” law or HB 317. If approved, HB 317 would impose fines and other penalties on drivers who remain in the left lane or passing lane on the highway.
“This creates a dangerous situation, when drivers unnecessarily camp out in the left lane,” Rep. Jenna Persons-Mulicka, R-Fort Myers, said in an interview with the Tallahassee Democrat. “It leads to blocking traffic flow, less predictability, more encounters, more passing maneuvers and more opportunities for accidents.”
"All of us who travel back and forth to Tallahassee experience frustration on the major highways and frustration caused by drivers impeding the flow of traffic in the left lane," Persons-Mulicka added.
Injured in a crash? Call a Central Florida car accident lawyer
Car accidents caused by other drivers in Florida who hit disabled vehicles or don’t move over from the passing lane might seem straightforward. But the reality is such accidents often quickly turn into complicated legal cases. And if you don’t have an experienced attorney handling your case, you might end up having to pay for your crash out of your own pocket.
That’s not right. That’s why our legal team at the Law Offices of Brent C. Miller, P.A. is here to help. Our team of attorneys thoroughly understands how the legal system works in Florida. As a result, we know how to build strong cases that get results. You’ll see the difference right away once you have our law firm on your side.
Put the power of our experienced legal team behind you. Contact us and schedule a free consultation with a Central Florida car accident attorney focused on winning. We work on a contingency fee basis. That means you pay no fees unless we secure a financial settlement for you. Talk to a lawyer at one of our four offices conveniently located in Central Florida, including offices in Tavares, Inverness, Clermont, and The Villages.
