Florida Drivers Handbook |
2.5. Crashes — Your Responsibilities
Traffic Crashes - Your Responsibilities
-
STOP.
If you are in a crash while driving, you must stop. If
anyone is hurt, you must get help. You must also be ready
to give your name, address, and vehicle registration number,
as well as show your driver license to others involved
in the crash.
-
REPORT THE CRASH.
If the crash causes injury, death, or property damage,
it must be reported. Call the local police, the Florida
Highway Patrol, or the county sheriff’s office.
If the crash involves a charge of driving under the influence
(DUI) or results in death, injury, or property damage
to the extent a wrecker must tow a vehicle, the officer
will fill out a report. If the crash is investigated by
an officer, the driver need not make a written report.
If property damage appears to be over $500 and no report
is written by an officer, you must make a written report
of the crash to the Department of Highway Safety and Motor
Vehicles within 10 days. The officer will provide you
with a copy of the form for your records.
-
MOVE YOUR CAR IF IT IS BLOCKING
TRAFFIC.
If your car is blocking the flow of traffic, you must
move it. If you cannot move it yourself, you must get
help or call a tow truck. This is true anytime your vehicle
is blocking the flow of traffic whether it has been involved
in a crash or not.
-
APPEAR IN COURT.
If you are charged in a crash, you may have to go to court.
The officer who comes to the scene of the crash will file
charges against any driver who violated a traffic law.
Anyone who is charged will have a chance to explain to
the court what happened. The court will then decide what
the penalty is. Anyone who is not charged with violating
the law may have to come to court as a witness. If you
are found at fault in a collision where anyone is injured
and transported to a medical treatment facility or it
is your second collision in a two-year period, you will
be required by law to attend a Traffic Collision Avoidance
Course. The traffic school that conducts this course can
be found in the yellow pages of your local telephone book
under Driving Instruction.
A driver convicted of leaving the scene
of a crash involving death or personal injury will have
his or her license revoked. The driver is also subject to
criminal penalties.
Crash Involving an Unattended Vehicle
If, while driving, you hit a vehicle with no one
in it or if you damage any object that belongs to someone
else, you must tell the owner. Give the owner your name,
address, and license plate number in person or in a note
attached to the object that was hit. Report the crash immediately
to the proper law enforcement agency.
Littering
Drivers are responsible for any littering from
their vehicles. Use ash trays for cigarettes and litter
bags for trash while riding in motor vehicles. Empty ash
trays and litter bags only into trash cans.
LITTERING IS A CRIME. PEOPLE WHO THROW TRASH ON PUBLIC STREETS
AND HIGHWAYS CAN BE FINED UP TO $500.00 OR JAILED UP TO
60 DAYS. YOU CAN BE CHARGED WITH A FIRST-DEGREE MISDEMEANOR
AND FINED UPTO $1,000.00 IF DUMPING MORE THAN 15 POUNDS
OF TRASH.
The court may also require you to pick up litter along roadways.
Road Damage
It is against the law to damage the roads by driving
on the rim of a flat tire or by any other means.
You could win a FREE
VIDEO GAME of
your choice!
Complete your Florida learners permit course online with us and you are automatically registered
to win.
Learn more about video game promotion. |
|
| |
|
|
|
 |
|
