Florida relies on highway shoulders to ease hurricane evacuation traffic

The short version

• Florida implements Emergency Shoulder Use to permit vehicles on paved highway shoulders during severe storm evacuations.[Jalopnik]
• The policy was introduced in 2017 by transportation authorities to replace resource-heavy contraflow lane reversals.[Jalopnik]
• Most standard passenger vehicles may use designated shoulders, though buses, large trucks, and trailers are excluded.[Jalopnik]
• The emergency procedures are currently prepared across sections of seven major Florida highways.[Jalopnik]

Key facts

• Florida's Emergency Shoulder Use policy temporarily allows vehicles onto paved highway shoulders during hurricane evacuations.[Jalopnik]
• The Florida Department of Transportation established the shoulder use policy in 2017 to replace contraflow lane reversal plans.[Jalopnik]
• A 2020 study found contraflows required daytime execution, heavy resources, and disrupted emergency services compared to shoulder use.[Jalopnik]
• Buses, large trucks, and trailers are barred from using the emergency shoulder travel lanes.[Jalopnik]
• Florida has designated Emergency Shoulder Use segments prepared on seven key highways throughout the state.[Jalopnik]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.

• Why Florida Sometimes Allows Cars To Drive On Highway ShouldersJalopnik