2025 Holiday Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over National Enforcement Mobilization
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Happy New Year 2026 – Recipes for the Road
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| As vehicles become more advanced, staying familiar with how our safety features work is essential. Properly using the safety features built into our vehicles is one of the simplest and most effective ways to prevent serious injuries and fatalities on the road. Features like seat belts, airbags, lane-keeping assistance, and autonomous emergency braking (AEB) are designed to work together – but only when they’re used correctly. Whether you’re a driver or passenger, each of us can help ensure these lifesaving technologies do what they’re meant to do as we travel around our communities. In 2023 alone, 40,901 lives were lost in motor vehicle crashes in the United States (source). Many of these crashes could have had very different outcomes if seat belts were properly worn, head restraints were adjusted, or driver-assistance tools were used as intended. Driver assistance technologies and vehicle safety features help protect you and your loved ones, as well as other drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists. The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is committed to building a culture where every person understands, trusts, and correctly uses the safety tools designed to protect them. Together, we can make proper use of these features a normal part of every trip, for every driver and every passenger traveling on Florida’s roadways. Raising Internal Awareness: No matter what office you officially call ‘home,’ we all can play a role in supporting safety. -Place the attached Vehicle Safety Feature Symbols card on your vehicle visors by using a binder clip, for a quick reference and reminder that safety features work when you do. -Have some fun and test your office’s knowledge with the attached Target Zero trivia cards! -Visit NHTSA’s Driver Assistance Technologies website to learn more about how these features keep you, your passengers, and others safe – and even input your car’s year, make, and model to see what features you have! In the Community: Grass-roots outreach efforts greatly improve safety messaging effectiveness – these one-on-one conversations have far-reaching impacts. -Attend a CarFit event as a volunteer – or an attendee! A properly fitted vehicle is a safe vehicle, and CarFit technicians make sure every vehicle is safe for its driver. -Do you know someone who is expecting? The Florida Traffic Safety Team offers free resources about child passenger safety, including print-outs for parents, daycares, pediatrician offices, and hospitals. In Your Everyday Life: Even when you’re not “on-the-clock,” there are ways to improve safety culture in Florida. –Make it a habit to adjust your seat, steering wheel, head restraint, and mirrors every time you get in the car and encourage passengers to do the same. Small steps can significantly reduce injury in a crash. –Model consistent seat belt use for every person, every seat, every trip. A simple reminder to a friend or family member could save their life. –Talk with loved ones about what vehicle alerts mean (source), how to use backup cameras safely, and why driver-assistance systems are helpful tools – not substitutes for attentive driving. –Double-check car seats are installed correctly when driving with children. For information on how to properly install and size a car seat for your child, visit FDOT’s Florida Occupant Protection Resource Center and their Florida Child Passenger Safety Seat Fitting Stations by County. –Do some research before purchasing a new or used vehicle. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) provides safety ratings for the year, make, and model of the vehicle(s) you are considering. Proper use of vehicle safety features is a daily choice that protects lives. By sharing resources, modeling safe behaviors, and encouraging open conversations, we can help every Floridian stay safer on our roads. Thank you for everything you do to support safety on Florida’s roads! Savannah & the Target Zero Team |
