Distracted Driving - Florida Permit Test

Learn about Distracted Driving Laws in Florida

See all Pass the Permit Test Topics


Distracted Driving is a topic you must understand to pass the Florida Permit Test. Watching the videos and reading the tutorials provided here will teach you about Distracted Driving.

Florida had more than 50,000 accidents in 2016 that were attributed to distracted driving. Since 2013 the number of accidents because of distracted driving have increased 26 percent. The primary message you must understand is when you're driving focus on driving.

Once you have watched the Videos on Distracted Driving and read the tutorials we recommend you take our practice test on Distracted driving to determine if you understand the topic.

Take Distracted Driving Practice Test


Distracted Driving Topics

Distracted Driving - Feeling Drowsy

If are driving and feeling sleepy or drowsy then you should not be driving. Find a safe place to pull over and take a nap. Drowsy driving is distracted driving and very dangerous.


Distracted Driving - Texting, Eating, Drinking

Texting, Eating, Drinking, Adjusting the Radio, and Using your Phone are activities that take your eyes off the road and your hands off the wheel. That is considered distracted driving.


Texting and Driving is Illegal

Texting while driving is distracted driving and illegal in Florida. Texting is one of the most dangerous distracted driving activities because it the three types of distractions: * Visual (you take your eyes off the road) * Manual (you take your hands off the steering wheel) * Cognitive (you are not thinking about driving).


Driving Drowsy

Driving drowsy can be extremely dangerous. In some cases drivers nod off for a few seconds and in other cases drivers fall asleep at the wheel, which can be deadly. In Florida, in 2016 there were more than 4,500 accidents caused by drowsy driving and 22 deaths.

What Causes Drowsy Driving

The two main causes of drowsy driving are lack of a good night sleep and driving at times when you would normally be sleeping.

Here are recommendations on how to avoid drowsy driving from the Florida DMV.

Take Breaks - On long trips take a break every 100 miles or 2 hours.

Buddy System - Switch drivers when the driver is feeling sleepy.

Take a Nap - Find a safe place to rest and take a nap.


Eating, Drinking and other Distractions

Eating and drinking are just two of many distractions that take your hands off the wheel and your eyes off the road.

Types of Distracted Driving

In addition to texting, The Florida Drivers Handbook lists the following as driver distractions:


Texting and Driving is Illegal in Florida

Texting is one of the most dangerous types of distracted driving

This is because texting requires all three types of distractions.

Three Types of Driver Distractions

Don't text while you are driving here is an example scenario:

If it is critical that you send or receive a text pull over somewhere safe.

A traffic ticket for texting while driving will result in 3 points on your driving record.

In 2014, over 1,600 traffic tickets were written for texting and driving.