TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Fourth of July is considered one of the busiest travel holidays of the year. The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) urges everyone to use caution when traveling on Florida roads this weekend for a safe and enjoyable Independence Day. The DHSMV urges motorists to make sure their vehicle is road-ready, buckle up and never drive impaired.
“The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) will continue our commitment to making the highways a safer place to drive by increasing our patrol efforts during the holiday,” said Colonel Gene Spaulding, Director of the Florida Highway Patrol. “Drivers need to use good judgement during the holiday period, so that the celebration does not turn into a tragedy.”
Preliminary data shows that eight people were killed in 897 crashes on Florida roads on July 4, 2016. On July 4, 2015, there were 14 fatalities and more than 900 crashes. FHP troopers will be conducting selective enforcement operations throughout the holiday weekend which target aggressive and impaired drivers statewide.
The DHSMV offers the following driving safety tips for this year’s Fourth of July weekend:
- Always buckle up. A seatbelt is your vehicle’s most important safety feature.
- Designate a sober driver and never drive impaired. Remember, even one drink increases the risk of a crash while driving. Do not let anyone who has been drinking get behind the wheel, including you.
- Check your tires before you take a trip. Properly maintaining and inspecting your tires before a long trip is a key step in keeping your family safe while traveling. Motorists should check to ensure their vehicle has proper tire pressure and inspect tire tread before driving to avoid potentially fatal tire failure and rollover crashes.
- Stay focused on driving and do not drive distracted. Distracted driving is extremely risky behavior and focused attention on driving helps to prevent crashes.
- Travelers should use caution when traveling through an area with low visibility, especially at night.
- Call *FHP (*347) to report drunk drivers, traffic crashes, stranded or disabled motorists or suspicious incidents on the road.
The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles provides highway safety and security through excellence in service, education and enforcement. The Department is leading the way to a safer Florida through the efficient and professional execution of its core mission: the issuance of driver licenses, vehicle tags and titles and operation of the Florida Highway Patrol. To learn more about DHSMV and the services offered, visit www.flhsmv.gov, follow us on Twitter @FLHSMV or find us on Facebook.
