Florida Driver's Handbook 2012

7. Vehicle Equipment

• 7.1. Equipment Standards
• 7.2. Other Equipment Standards
• 7.3. Equipment Not Permitted
• 7.4. Additional Equipment Required on Certain Vehicles
• 7.5. Limitations on Towing
• 7.6. Limitations on Loading; Securing the Load
• 7.7. Nighttime
• 7.8. Daytime
• 7.9. Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)
• 7.10. Emissions - Please Do Not Tamper
• 7.11. Bicycles
• 7.12. Mopeds
• 7.13. Vehicle Licensing
• 7.14. Proving Ownership and Insurance Coverage
• 7.15. Applying For Title, License Plates and Registration
• 7.16. Renewal

The equipment on your car must meet certain standards. These are listed below.

7.1.1 - Brakes

Your car must have two braking systems. Each must be able to stop the car alone. The parking or emergency brake should be strong enough to hold the car on any hill. Your brakes must be able to stop your car within the distance shown on the chart.

7.1.2 - Braking Distance

You must be able to stop your car within the distance shown by the black cars when you use the foot brake. For safest driving, keep your brakes in such good condition that you can stop within distance shown by the white cars.

It is important to note that the graph illustrates the braking distance AFTER YOU HAVE APPLIED YOUR BRAKES.

NOTE: Reaction times in laboratories are 3/4 of a second. In the driving environment, your reaction time would be closer to 1.5 seconds and the distance you would travel at 50 mph would be 110 feet. To this must be added a REACTION DISTANCE, which is the distance you travel from seeing the danger to putting your foot on the brake pedal. Since 3/4 of a second is the average reaction time, a motorist will travel 11 feet for each 10 MPH of speed before hitting the brake. At 50 MPH this distance would be 55 feet!

7.1.3 - Steering Lock Operation

Vehicles have various systems used to remove the keys from the ignition. Remember, some ignitions will automatically lock the steering wheel if the key is removed while moving. Here are some common steering wheel lock systems and a description of how to remove the key:

The Transmission Park System
Park. Shift the transmission into the "park" position. Turn key to LOCK and remove.

The Two Hand Button System
Park. This system requires two hands. Depress button below the steering column. Turn key to LOCK and remove.

The Lever System
Park. Depress lever located near the ignition. Turn key to LOCK and remove.

The One Hand Button System
Park. Depress button located near the ignition. Turn key to LOCK and remove.

The Push In System
Park. Turn key to OFF, push in. Turn key to LOCK and remove.

The Turn and Remove System
Park. Turn key to LOCK and remove.

Automobile Safety Foundation

7.1.4 Lights:

Your car must have the following lights:

• Bright (high-beam) headlights which show objects 450 feet ahead.
• Dimmed (low-beam) headlights which show objects 150 feet ahead.
• Two red taillights mounted on the rear, visible from 1,000 feet.
• A white light that makes the license plate visible from 50 feet (The plate must be kept clean).
• Two red stoplights. They must be seen from 300 feet in the daytime, and must come on when the foot brake is pressed.

All vehicles, including animal-drawn vehicles, must have at least one white light visible from a distance of not less than 1,000 feet to the front. They must also have two red lights visible from a distance of not less than 1,000 feet to the rear, or one red light visible to the rear for a distance of 1,000 feet and two red reflectors visible from all distances from 600 feet to 1,000 feet.

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