Driving on South Florida Highway – Courtesy: Shutterstock – Image by Julian Prizont-Cado
While driving in Florida, you’ll now want to aim to “move it, move it.”
The “Move Over” statute in Florida, HB 425, is being amended. The new provisions will take effect on January 1. Not only emergency vehicles but also disabled automobiles parked on the side of the road are covered by the new law.
However, HB 425 should not be confused with HB 317, which addresses left-lane hogging drivers. The Legislature will take up HB 317 in 2024. It would take effect on January 1, 2025, if passed.
When it comes to driving in Florida, you should be aware of both of the following:
Currently, stopped law enforcement, emergency, sanitation, utility service, tow trucks or wreckers, maintenance or construction vehicles with displayed warning lights without advanced signs or channelizing devices, or disabled motor vehicles are all subject to the requirement under Florida law that drivers move over a lane when it is safe to do so.
When driving on a two-lane road or when you are unable to change over, drivers should:
- Reduce your speed to twenty miles per hour below the legal limit.
- If the posted speed restriction is 20 mph or less, reduce your speed to 5 mph.
Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles state that breaking the Move Over legislation will result in a fine, fines, and points on your driving record.
HB 425: Transfer Expanded jurisdiction starting on January 1, 2024
Also, starting on January 1, 2024, drivers will have to change over if:
- There is a disabled car that has pulled over and is flashing warning or hazard lights.
- If a car that is stopped is utilizing flares for emergencies or is displaying emergency signage.
- When a car is stopped people can clearly be seen inside.
In HB 317, drivers who use the left lane are addressed. It is not the same as the extended Move Over law.
The proposed HB 317 law targets drivers who continuously remain in the left lane.
Rep. Jenna Persons-Mulicka, a Republican from Fort Myers, sponsored the bill, which, with certain exceptions, would penalize anyone utilizing the far-left lane on roadways with speed limits of 65 mph or more for anything other than overtaking other cars.
According to the law, drivers would not be allowed to use the farthest left-hand lane or a road with two or more lanes with a posted speed limit of no less than 65 mph unless they:
- Another car is being passed and overtaken by you.
- You’re going to get off the street, road, or highway.
- Law enforcement or an authorized traffic control device has led you here.
The proposed bill will be discussed by the Legislature in the 2024 session. On January 1, 2025, if adopted, it would become operative.
By the numbers: Florida’s Move over crash data.
The FLHSMV reports that the following number of collisions occurred between January 4, 2015, and November 23, 2023, in which a driver received a citation for failing to yield to an emergency, sanitation, or utility service vehicle:
- 1,696 crashes
- Eight people died.
- 128 serious injuries
Move over citations issued by year in Florida
- 2017: 19,157
- 2018: 17,322
- 2019: 20,592
- 2020: 13,545
- 2021: 14,933
- 2022: 14,130
- 2023: 12,756
Move over citations in Florida by age groups
- 15-19: 7,192
- 20-29: 26,027
- 30-39: 21,545
- 40-49: 20,154
- 50-59: 17,812
- 60-69: 11,958
- 70-79: 5,675
- 80-89: 1,463
- 90+: 97
Born and raised in South Florida, Krystal is a recent graduate from the University of Miami with professional writing experience at the collegiate and national news outlet levels. She’s a foodie who loves all things travel, the beach, & visiting new places throughout Florida.