Buckle Up Religiously

Posted on 01/10/2023 by Traffic Safety Team

If you knew something you could do every day that would save you and your family from possible loss of life or serious injury, wouldn’t you do it?

Be prepared and protected by buckling up every time you get in the car! Wear your safety seat belt for your family, for yourself, and for life.

Buckling up is still the most effective way to save lives and reduce injuries from crashes on our roadways, and did you know…

You are twice as likely to be severely injured or killed when unbuckled.
A child unrestrained in a 30 mph crash is the same as a child dropped from a third-story window.
Chances are that someone you know will be involved in a vehicle crash this year.

One Click Does the Trick … wear your seat belt and secure all children in a proper child safety seat.

Buckle Up Religiously has been part of Northeast Florida’s ongoing occupant protection campaign for more than a decade. In 2020, we designed a new graphic with a buckled safety belt and angel wings. Community partners, churches, athletic groups, and organizations displayed these posters and banners throughout our 18 counties in District Two.

occupant protection - Safety Belts Save Lives - Buckle Up Religiously — *Buckle Up Religiously Social Media Graphic*

occupant protection - Safety Belts Save Lives - Buckle Up Religiously poster — *11×17 Poster – Buckle Up Religiously!*

Buckle Up Religiously outreach and education pieces created by the FDOT District Two’s Community Traffic Safety Program.

These are popular posters to display, tip cards to hand out, and flyers to insert in local church bulletins. Click on a graphic to download and print to distribute or share on social media. Please tag us on Facebook and Instagram @trafficsafetyteam and Twitter and LinkedIn @trafficsafetyfl and hashtag #BuckleUpReligiously

One Click Does the Trick art — *Buckle Up Religiously Tip Card from 2015*

Buckle Up Religiously art — *Buckle Up Religiously Flyer from 2012*

In addition, we hope you will explore and share more traffic safety information, tips, and resources. Please visit the following:

Move Over or Slow Down

Posted on 12/28/2022 by Traffic Safety Team

January is Move Over Month in Florida. The Northeast Florida Department of Transportation District Two Community Traffic Safety Program reminds all motorists to obey Florida’s Move Over Law which helps protect those who protect us while they provide important services in a dangerous environment – the side of the road.

Move Over or Slow Down — *Move over or slow down for stopped emergency and public service vehicles*

*Slow down if unable to move over for stopped emergency and public service vehicles*

*Pull over for moving emergency vehicles*

In addition to first responders, this law also applies to other public servants and roadside workers. Drivers typically know to move over for law enforcement, fire rescue and emergency medical services. Many still do not realize the law requires them to move over for sanitation, utility, wrecker, maintenance, and construction vehicles. Basically, if motorists see a service vehicle on the side of the road with a flashing warning lights, they need to change lanes or slow down.

The Florida requirement expanding to cover these additional roadway service providers went into effect in July 2021. Preliminary data shows that in 2021, there were 191 crashes and more than 14,000 citations issued for motorists failing to move over in Florida, according to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV). Obeying Florida’s Move Over law will help ensure all personnel working along our roadways get home safely.

Florida Law, Move Over and Slow Down for Stopped Emergency and Service Vehicles

Move Over

As soon as it is safe to do so, vacate the lane closest to the stationary emergency vehicle, sanitation vehicle, utility service vehicle, wrecker, or road and bridge maintenance or construction vehicle when driving on an interstate highway or other highway with two or more lanes.
Always signal your intention to change lanes.
Be prepared to allow those who are attempting to move over into the next lane.

Slow Down

If moving over cannot be safely accomplished, slow down to a speed that is 20 mph less than the posted speed limit when the posted speed limit is 25 mph or greater; or travel at 5 mph when the posted speed limit is 20 mph or less when driving on a two-lane road.

Violating the Move Over law puts you and others at risk, and a citation will result in a fine, fees, and points on your driving record. To read the Florida Statue, see 316.126 – Operation of vehicles and actions of pedestrians on approach of an authorized emergency, sanitation, or utility service vehicle.

Pull Over for Moving Emergency Vehicles

Motorists should always remember to pay attention while driving and pull over for emergency vehicles approaching from behind. Help protect moving emergency vehicles by:

Yielding the right of way
Moving to the closest, safety edge of roadway
Clearing intersection
Remaining stopped until the vehicle has passed

Mocktails • Recipes • Safety Tips

Posted on 11/29/2022 by Traffic Safety Team

Seasonal Mocktails, Recipes and Traffic Safety Tips

These delicious nonalcoholic drink mocktails, recipes, and safety tips are part of the Celebrate Safely, Designate a Driver, and Recipes for the Road campaigns. The FDOT District Two Community Traffic Safety Program has produced unique mocktails and shared nonalcoholic drinks from local Northeast Florida restaurants and bars since 1997. In 2017, we launched our first recipe videos for the 20th Annual Recipes for the Road edition.

We hope you watch, share, and enjoy our alcohol-free drink recipes, appetizer and meal recipes, and safe ABCs of partying tips below. EVEN ONE DRINK of alcohol can slow your reflexes and reaction time, reduce your ability to see clearly, and makes you less alert. Be a part of a safety culture focused on preventing injuries and fatalities on our roads.

Florida Recipes for all your Holidays and New Year Refreshments

Grasshopper Mocha Mocktail

Peach Bella Bellini

Cran-Raspberry Holiday Punch

Nonalcoholic beverages are becoming ever more popular. Trendy virgin cocktails are great for office parties, family gatherings, and social events. There are health benefits to reducing or eliminating alcohol in your diet. Mocktails offer a tasty alternative for designated drivers. Awareness months like Sober October and Dry January promote this healthier lifestyle. Check out our sweet Valentine’s Day-inspired drinks. Below are other alcohol-free cocktails and food recipes for all the festive holidays (typically known for their heavy drinking), like Super Bowl Sunday, Cinco de Mayo, Memorial Day, Independence Day (AKA 4th of July), Labor Day, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve.

Pineapple Mock-Margarita

Strawberry Basil Infused Water

Sparkling Cherry Love Potion

Candy Cane Mocktini

Nojito Mojito

Sparkling Strawberry Mandarin Mocktail

Hot Citrus Cider

Dreamy Hot Cocoa Recipe and The Marshmallow Snowman

Green Grinch Punch Recipe and Grinch Kabob Instructions

Party Favorite Food Recipes

Sweet & Salty White Chocolate Snack Mix

Festive Holiday Cranberry Brie Appetizer Bites

Chicken Enchilada Quinoa Soup

Cheesy Breadstick Twists

Meatball Slider Pull-Apart Appetizer

The A.B.C. Recipe for Hosting a Safe Party

A – Alcohol Awareness

Always serve food with alcoholic beverages.
Food slows down the absorption rate of alcohol into the body.
Offer non-alcoholic beverages.
Make guests feel welcome, no matter what they choose to drink.

B – Buffet

Serve protein-rich and starchy foods throughout the evening.
By eating first, partygoers may drink less, and the food will help slow the absorption of alcohol into their bloodstream.
As the hour becomes late, put away the alcoholic beverages, but continue to offer a good supply of food.
Remember, only time will eliminate alcohol from the body.

C – Carpool or Cab

Encourage family and friends to ride together and have a pre-selected designated driver.
Provide alternatives for guests who may have had too much to drink.
Have someone who has not been drinking drive them home.
Call a cab or ride-share for guests to have a safe ride home.
Let the person sleep overnight rather than getting in their car while intoxicated.

Fall Favorites in Florida are Cool and Refreshing for a Thanksgiving Feast

Pumpkin Spice Smoothie

Festive Sparkling Punch

Apple Cider Float

Micromobility

Posted on 11/28/2022 by Traffic Safety Team

Micromobility usage is on the rise nationally and in Florida. The FDOT District Two’s Community Traffic Safety Program examined what Micromobility currently looks like in Northeast Florida. In this presentation, we will discuss what micromobility is—and isn’t. We will look at the increased popularity of micromobility nationally and its use in Northeast Florida and consider some of the safety challenges associated with the increased use of micromobility devices while keeping in mind the goal of ZERO fatalities on our roadways.

Watch the Micromobility video presentation:

How micromobility is defined is important because the functional and legal definitions determine the rights and responsibilities of micromobility device users operating on public streets and, accordingly, how law enforcement, public safety educators, and transportation planners and engineers can work to help improve safety outcomes.

From an industry perspective, they must be:

fully or partially electrically powered.
lightweight, under 500 pounds.
relatively low-speed—under 30 miles per hour.

Examples include powered bicycles, also known as “E-bikes,” standing scooters, seated scooters, self-balancing boards like “Segways” and some “Hoverboards,” non-self-balancing boards, powered skates, and a range of other similar devices.

We highlight Florida Statutes and how micromobility is defined in Florida law. We discuss local regulation and Florida’s “Home Rule” principle. As a result, local governments can prohibit use on trails and sidewalks and regulate “for-hire” devices up to and including prohibition.

Flip through the presentation slides:

In five years, from 2016 to 2019, the use of shared, for-hire devices has increased more than seven-fold. Use accelerates as fleets of scooters and e-bikes are deployed in more cities.

While electric devices differ from “Active Transportation” modes like walking and pedaling a bike, the safety and infrastructure focus are similar. Micromobility devices are treated the same as traditional bicycles from a legal perspective because they generally have similar speed, maneuverability, and weight. Accordingly, strategies to enhance bicyclist safety, as well as strategies to make streets safer for pedestrians, will generally benefit micromobility users as well.

The infrastructure options to make micromobilty safe and effective are similar to those for cycling —namely, lower-stress facilities. Accordingly, networks that include low-stress facilities such as protected bike lanes, shared-use paths, bike boulevards, and cycle tracks will be more appealing to and improve the safety outcomes of a broader group of conventional bicycle and micromobility users.

Shared micromobility services are not currently as common in Northeast Florida as in other parts of the state. To date, three communities have active contracts with micromobility providers.

Safety challenges are similar to bicycles. However, an E-bike or powered scooter can attain relatively high speeds faster and with little effort. Lack of experience is another critical factor.

Safety strategies include applying bicycle and pedestrian countermeasures. These include pedestrian safe crossings, low-stress bike infrastructure, and encouraging the use of helmets and safety equipment.

Our Community Traffic Safety Team members play an essential role in developing and implementing strategies to address these safety challenges. This includes working with local governments to include best-practice provisions in micromobility vendor contracts concerning geofencing and management of the public right-of-way; planning, designing, and construction of low-stress bicycle infrastructure to provide for overall mobility advantages; and working with businesses, chambers of commerce, and local law enforcement to provide educational material to tourists and other potentially inexperienced micromobility users.

We hope you take this opportunity to learn about Micromobility. Additionally, check out bicycle and pedestrian safety resources and tips.

Micromobility news and resources:

GHSA October 2022 News Release, As E-Scooter Usage Booms, New Report Identifies Deficiencies Impacting Rider Safety
Transportation Research Board research report, E-scooter Safety: Issues and Solutions
GHSA report, Understanding and Tackling Micromobility: Transportation’s New Disruptor

“E-scooters, which were a novelty just a few years ago, are here to stay. Everyone deserves to feel safe on the road, and we must do more to prioritize safety for this growing mode of travel.”
GHSA Executive Director Jonathan Adkins

Recipes for the Road

Posted on 11/17/2022 by Traffic Safety Team

The Florida Department of Transportation District Two and the Community Traffic Safety Program are excited to present the 25th Annual Recipes for the Road. For a quarter century, we have worked to make a positive impact and help keep people safe on our roads during the holidays. This year we have printed a four-page Recipes for the Road card to distribute throughout Northeast Florida. A 25th-anniversary edition is available online as a digital flipbook or PDF download, and a special limited supply of printed keepsake books.

Much appreciation goes to Northeast Florida’s Community Traffic Safety Team members, partners, and volunteers that continue promoting traffic safety. They share our passion and goal of reducing alcohol-related traffic crashes and fatalities on our roadways. These people and organizations have been instrumental in the success of our Celebrate Safely, Designate a Driver program, and the Recipes for the Road booklet for 25 years!

Our goal is to help stop impaired driving and reduce alcohol-related traffic crashes and fatalities in Northeast Florida this holiday season and throughout the year. Every issue is filled with unique nonalcoholic drinks, mocktails, appetizers, treats, and traffic safety tips. Past editions from last year to the inaugural issue in 1997 are available below.

Recipes for the Road is part of our Celebrate Safely, Designate a Driver program. The program focuses on the SHSP strategies of both education and insight into creating safer communities. They are specifically designed to work with local partners, including law enforcement, team members, restaurants, and bars, to promote responsible alcohol service and personal use at events or party hosting. The campaign promotes safe transportation choices that encourage alternatives to driving while impaired.

Be Responsible – Do Not Drink and Drive

Thanksgiving through the New Year is a fun and festive time of year. Throughout this fall and winter season there are many celebrations, family gatherings, festivals, football pre-game tailgating and holiday parties. They are all best enjoyed when we celebrate responsibly. Please always drive safe and sober.

Please share and enjoy all these mocktails, food recipes, safety activity games and traffic safety tips. Click here to view our Mocktail drink and food recipe videos available online.