It's almost time for me to make my return trip to Vermont and I haven't yet railed about Florida traffic laws yet. Well, let me correct that now.
I don't know that these are official part of the Florida traffic codes. In fact I am pretty sure they are not. And yet there are a few things that I observe routinely.
1. Perfectly okay to drive while blind. I kid you not. I am not a very social person and I don't have a huge circle of acquaintances, but I know four people whom I know for a fact to be legally blind. And they drive. I have to believe that if I know four such people, there are a lot more out there.
2. Most places have right turn on red, but why not add a little adventure to your life and try left turn on red -- regardless of whether or not there may be oncoming traffic. I've seen that more than once.
3. Pedestrian crossing signals are put up only to dare pedestrians to attempt crossing. They have no implications for drivers. In fact most of them are set up so that cross traffic drivers would not even be aware that they are there so those right on red folks and those left on red folks -- they are free to make their turns into pedestrian crossing. In fairness many drivers will slam on brakes when they notice that there are people waling in the crosswalk. They will make rude gestures for sure, but they will try to stop. Just be aware that the Rule #1 drivers are out there. Walking is generally discouraged. Drive to a park and walk there.
4. Stop lines -- this picture isn't from Florida, but you do see those stop lines painted on cross streets. Sometimes.
Be aware that they mean absolutely nothing. The accepted procedure for making a stop on a cross street is to slow down but keep rolling through the stop line, through the crosswalk, nosing into the intersecting street. Any pedestrian in the area is there at his or her own risk and only deserves any rude gesture you happen to have in your repertoire.
5. Speed limits--it's fairly rare to see police enforcement on the major highway. The posted limit is 75, but confident drivers seem to have no problem with doing 100. I believe more caution is advised at the end of the month. Follow the posted speed limits near golf communities, unless you are a resident there. Then you will pretty much know the enforcement schedule and work around it. Be sure to tailgate and roar past anyone actually following the speed limit on other days as they are advertising that they do not belong there and are probably lost. When school zone lights are flashing, drive 15 MPH. It is in the FL traffic laws that you will be ticketed at 16MPH. I have never seen anyone break this school zone rule. (We have yet to make schools safe from shooters, but the kids are safe from speeders so that's a start.)
I don't know that these are official part of the Florida traffic codes. In fact I am pretty sure they are not. And yet there are a few things that I observe routinely.
1. Perfectly okay to drive while blind. I kid you not. I am not a very social person and I don't have a huge circle of acquaintances, but I know four people whom I know for a fact to be legally blind. And they drive. I have to believe that if I know four such people, there are a lot more out there.
2. Most places have right turn on red, but why not add a little adventure to your life and try left turn on red -- regardless of whether or not there may be oncoming traffic. I've seen that more than once.
3. Pedestrian crossing signals are put up only to dare pedestrians to attempt crossing. They have no implications for drivers. In fact most of them are set up so that cross traffic drivers would not even be aware that they are there so those right on red folks and those left on red folks -- they are free to make their turns into pedestrian crossing. In fairness many drivers will slam on brakes when they notice that there are people waling in the crosswalk. They will make rude gestures for sure, but they will try to stop. Just be aware that the Rule #1 drivers are out there. Walking is generally discouraged. Drive to a park and walk there.
4. Stop lines -- this picture isn't from Florida, but you do see those stop lines painted on cross streets. Sometimes.
Be aware that they mean absolutely nothing. The accepted procedure for making a stop on a cross street is to slow down but keep rolling through the stop line, through the crosswalk, nosing into the intersecting street. Any pedestrian in the area is there at his or her own risk and only deserves any rude gesture you happen to have in your repertoire.5. Speed limits--it's fairly rare to see police enforcement on the major highway. The posted limit is 75, but confident drivers seem to have no problem with doing 100. I believe more caution is advised at the end of the month. Follow the posted speed limits near golf communities, unless you are a resident there. Then you will pretty much know the enforcement schedule and work around it. Be sure to tailgate and roar past anyone actually following the speed limit on other days as they are advertising that they do not belong there and are probably lost. When school zone lights are flashing, drive 15 MPH. It is in the FL traffic laws that you will be ticketed at 16MPH. I have never seen anyone break this school zone rule. (We have yet to make schools safe from shooters, but the kids are safe from speeders so that's a start.)
Oh my goodness this made me laugh. We have seen these things in florida except for the school zone. DWBlind is incredible to me. I think if you are told you are legally blind you should have your eye dr alert DMV and your license is revoked. But then again they would still drive wouldn't they? I must admit that I have seen the left turn on red around here too. I yell from my car as if they can hear me. :-)
ReplyDeleteI mostly wonder why some people have some place so very interesting or amazing to go that they have to risk speeding there past everyone else.
DeleteFunny not funny. I have a feeling it is true and think you might be better off in Vermont. LOL
ReplyDeleteI will be reminded that VT drivers aren't really much better soon enough. I do think it is much easier to be a pedestrian in VT though.
DeleteWe have many pedestrian crosswalks in our town, but I definitely make eye contact before start to cross We have too many tourists, and they can't be bothered to stop. This winter we saw an inordinate amount of FL plates. Perhaps the blind drivers are now also skiing blind?
ReplyDeleteWe teach them in Jersey, and when they are legally blind we ship them to Florida!
ReplyDeleteHa! I suspected as much.
DeleteTickled me to a giggle. Thabks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteWould be funny if it weren't so true! Unfortunately these topsy turvy rules seem to apply in 49 other states as well. I just don't understand why otherwise-law-abiding citizens seem to think that traffic laws are for dummies . . . when they themselves are the true dummies.
ReplyDeleteDon't forget the driverless cars--actually, there is a driver, they have just shrunken out of sight via age. Sure am glad to be out of Fl and in the Ozarks where car horns don't blow and the patience is common.
ReplyDeleteHaha! I have seen that too!
DeleteSchool Zone laws are a good one. Did you see the one about arming teachers with small bats to use in a gun fight. Sounds like driving in Florida and teaching school are equally dangerous.
ReplyDeleteIn my lifetime I see more peo-le disobeying laws of all sorts. It is really sad. I think some of the blind drivers see enough to manage and are likely ones who take it easy by stopping as they shpuld and going the limit. It is those with the good vision who are more dangerous these days.
ReplyDeleteVery funny, but sadly true?
ReplyDeleteHere the traffic is so bad that it might be faster to walk.
My younger daughter was driving 90 mph in a 55 mph zone when she was pulled over. She told the cop she was late for class and to let her go. But, the cop gave her a ticket anyway.
ReplyDeleteGoodness, I'm glad I've never chosen to rent a car when I've visited Florida. We have a number of 3, 4, and 5 but thankfully I've not met any 1's and 2's here in Saskatchewan.
ReplyDeleteSafe travels!
Eileen