Florida Class E Knowledge Exam Cheat Sheet

A condensed, skimmable recap of the rules most worth knowing cold before your exam — distilled from our full Florida practice question bank. This isn't a replacement for the Florida Driver’s Handbook; confirm anything time-sensitive with FLHSMV.

Right-of-Way

At a 4-way stop, whoever stops first goes first; if two arrive together, the driver on the left yields to the driver on the right.
Traffic already inside a roundabout has the right-of-way — entering drivers must yield and wait for a safe gap.
Every intersection has a legal crosswalk, marked or not — yield to pedestrians in your half of the road or close enough to be a hazard.
At a two-way stop, only vehicles facing the stop signs must stop; they yield to the uncontrolled cross street.

Traffic Signals

Solid red = complete stop; right turn on red allowed after stopping, unless posted otherwise.
Flashing red = treat it like a stop sign. Flashing yellow = slow down and proceed carefully, no full stop required.
A green arrow gives a protected turn — oncoming traffic has a red light, so you don't need to yield to them.

Traffic Signs

Shape and color carry meaning: red octagon = STOP, red/white downward triangle = YIELD, yellow diamond = warning, red circle-slash = prohibited, orange = construction.
Green = guide/directional, blue = services (gas, food, lodging), brown = recreation, white rectangle = regulatory (e.g. speed limit).
The pentagon shape is reserved for school signs. Hurricane evacuation route signs mark roads used to move inland ahead of a storm.

Speed Limits

Common default in business/residential districts: 30 mph. Highway limits commonly range 55-70 mph outside those districts.
School zones are typically posted around 20 mph during active times.
The basic speed law always applies — slow below the posted limit when a sudden afternoon storm makes it unsafe.

Following Distance

Keep at least a 3-second gap in good conditions; add more time in rain, heavy traffic, or behind motorcycles and large trucks.
Check it yourself: note when the vehicle ahead passes a fixed point, then count seconds until you reach that same point.

Turning & Lane Changes

Signal continuously for at least 100 feet before turning or changing lanes.
Right turns start and end in the lane closest to the curb; left turns end just right of the center line of the road you're entering.
Before turning right, check for cyclists riding along the right side of the lane.

Passing & Lane Markings

Never pass on the shoulder. Confirm enough clear distance ahead in the oncoming lane before starting, and don't return until you see the passed vehicle's front end in your mirror.
Double solid yellow = no passing either direction. On multi-lane highways, keep right except to pass.
A diamond lane marking is an HOV lane — sometimes paired with a toll option on express lanes.

School Buses

Stop for a school bus with flashing red lights and an extended stop arm — both directions on an undivided road, only your direction if there's a physical median.
Stay at least 10 feet back and remain stopped until the lights stop flashing and the arm retracts.

Railroad Crossings

Stop at least 15 feet from the nearest rail when signals, gates, or a flagger indicate a train.
Never drive around a lowered gate, even if no train is visible. If your vehicle stalls on the tracks, get everyone out and away immediately.

Hurricane Evacuation

Fuel up early — stations near an approaching storm can run out of fuel or lose power fast.
Follow designated evacuation routes and leave by the recommended time once a mandatory order is issued.
Florida may reverse inbound lanes (contraflow) on some interstates during a major evacuation, so expect heavy congestion even without it.
Never drive over or near a downed power line — it can still be energized even if it looks inactive.

Move Over & Emergency Vehicles

Move over one lane for a stopped emergency, sanitation, utility, or maintenance vehicle with flashing lights if safe; slow down significantly if you can't change lanes.
Pull right and stop for an approaching emergency vehicle — but never stop inside an intersection; clear it first.

DUI, Alcohol & Drugs

BAC limits: 0.08% for drivers 21+, 0.02% zero-tolerance for under 21, 0.04% for commercial drivers.
Implied consent means refusing a chemical test after a DUI arrest brings an automatic license suspension, separate from any conviction.
Impairment from legal or prescription drugs (including cannabis) can still result in a DUI just like alcohol.

Distracted Driving

Texting while driving is banned for everyone, and is a primary offense — an officer can stop you for this alone.
Hands-free use is required specifically in designated school crossings and active work zones.

Seatbelts & Child Safety

Every occupant, front and back, must wear a seatbelt.
Florida's child restraint law covers children through age 5 (car seat or booster) — one of the lower age cutoffs among states; age 6+ may use the regular seatbelt.
Never place a rear-facing car seat in front of an active airbag.

Parking

Park at least 15 feet from a fire hydrant, and generally within about 12 inches of the curb when parallel parking.
Never park where it blocks a crosswalk, a fire lane, or a shoulder without a genuine emergency.
On a grade with no curb, turn your wheels toward the road's edge.

Freeway Driving

Use the acceleration lane to match traffic speed before merging — you don't automatically have the right-of-way entering a freeway.
Signal and move into the exit lane well before your exit. If you miss it, continue safely to the next exit — never stop, back up, or U-turn on a freeway.

Weather Conditions

Florida has some of the most frequent lightning and afternoon thunderstorms in the country — expect sudden heavy rain and reduced visibility, especially in summer.
Flat terrain and a high water table mean water can pool quickly on low roads, raising flooding and hydroplaning risk.
If you start hydroplaning, ease off the gas — don't brake or turn suddenly.

Work Zones

Fines are commonly doubled for violations in a posted work zone when workers are present.
A flagger's signals take priority over the standard signs and signals in that area.

Roundabouts

Traffic moves counterclockwise; yield to vehicles already circulating before entering.
Signal right just before your exit. If you miss it, just go around again rather than stopping or reversing.

Sharing the Road with Large Vehicles

If you can't see a truck driver's face in their mirror, they likely can't see you either.
Trucks and buses often swing wide before a right turn — never try to squeeze into the gap on their right.

Bicycles

Florida law requires at least 3 feet of clearance when passing a bicyclist.
Check for cyclists riding along the right side of the lane before turning right.
Check for approaching cyclists before opening a car door.

Insurance & Registration

FLHSMV handles both driver licensing and vehicle registration — unlike states that split these across two agencies.
Florida is a no-fault state: drivers generally must carry Personal Injury Protection (PIP), which pays your own medical costs after a crash regardless of fault.
Be ready to show your license, registration, and proof of insurance at any traffic stop.

Licensing & Provisional Rules

Learner's license available at 15 after completing the TLSAE (Traffic Law and Substance Abuse Education) course.
Nighttime restriction: no driving 11 p.m.-6 a.m. at 16, easing to 1 a.m.-5 a.m. at 17, unless accompanied or driving to/from work.
Requires 50+ hours of supervised practice (10 at night) and holding the learner's license 12 months or until 18, whichever comes first.
The written knowledge test generally requires at least 80% correct to pass.

After a Collision

Check for injuries and call 911 first, before handling paperwork.
Stop and exchange name, address, registration, license, and insurance information with everyone involved.
Florida generally requires reporting crashes with injury, death, or a vehicle requiring towing. Failing to stop and exchange info is a hit-and-run.