Travel Safely and Arrive Alive this Independence Day
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – While the Fourth of July is known for cookouts, fireworks and activities with family and friends, it is also 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 an enjoyable and safe Independence Day.
The department 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. It is crucial that motorists educate themselves on the importance of maintaining proper tire pressure and inspect tire tread and damage on a regular basis in order to avoid potentially fatal tire failure and rollover crashes.
• Stay focused on driving and do not drive distracted. Distracted driving is extremely risky behavior that not only puts drivers and passengers in danger, but also pedestrians and bicyclists sharing the road. Focused attention on driving helps to prevent crashes overall.
• Travelers should to use caution when traveling through an area where there is smoke, especially at night.
• Call *FHP (*347) to report drunk drivers, traffic crashes, stranded or disabled motorists or suspicious incidents on the road.
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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. For safer driving tips and techniques, download the official Florida Driver License Handbook.