Our History
We asked each establishment to contribute a non-alcoholic drink recipe, which we would include in the collection at no cost to them. In turn, for their participation, they would receive 25 free copies of the Recipes for the Road printed booklet. Keeping in mind it was 2004, we created a form so the restaurants could FAX us a copy of their recipe and logo for inclusion in the recipe books. The biggest hurdle we had to overcome was that many restaurant owners found it difficult to believe the program was free to participate in. That year, the book was only 10 pages, and we distributed 3,000 copies. The book also included traffic safety tips and letters from the Mayors of Tampa, St. Petersburg and Clearwater.
Our distribution network included participating restaurants, AAA, Safety Council, MADD, Tampa Alcohol Coalition, our law enforcement connections, libraries, hospitals, the District Attorney’s office, and CTST members.
Recipes for the Road had several successful years, with a new booklet produced annually. By 2010, the book had grown to 27 pages and was themed with holiday mocktails. We focused on the deadliest holidays in terms of impaired driving and alcohol-related crashes: Superbowl, Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, Cinco De Mayo, 4th of July, Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas. We began to feature true stories from MADD victims, giving the entire booklet a more profound meaning and impact. The powerful stories interwoven into the pages of non-alcoholic drink recipes really underscored the significance of the Recipes for the Road program. Distribution that year reached 20,000 copies.
Fast forward to 2024, 20 years after inception, we are still going strong. Recipes for the Road is now produced in the form of recipe cards, available in both a printed and digital format. We print the cards in-house, 300 for each holiday, and make them available in the FDOT District 7 headquarters' lobby. The digital cards are featured on the CTST website and in monthly team email blasts. The recipe cards still contain traffic safety tips, a mocktail recipe, an appetizer recipe, and traffic statistics for the featured holiday.
The original printed books, beautifully designed by Tindale Oliver (now Benesch), graced the counters and tables of the offices of partners and friends across the District through the years. To keep up with changing times, the books have turned into cards – and the digital version has become very sought after. The digital option allows our partners to easily download and print, share on their social media channels and websites, or share via email to their own groups and teams. By going digital, we have increased audience type, audience engagement and overall reach!
Recipes for the Road remains a meaningful and impactful project aimed at saving lives. Here’s to 20 more years of success and safety with Recipes for the Road!