TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – From December 7-11, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT)’s Safe Mobility for Life Coalition is joining other organizations nationwide to recognize Older Driver Safety Awareness Week. FDOT’s Safe Mobility for Life Coalition will use this week as an opportunity to inform Floridians on ways to achieve mobility independence – safely getting to and from the places they need and want to go with or without a car. In addition, Governor Ron DeSantis signed a statewide proclamation to celebrate December 7-11, 2020 as Older Driver Safety Awareness Week in Florida.
“The department continues its commitment to achieving zero fatalities and zero serious injuries on our roadways as well as providing a range of mobility options for our residents and visitors,” said Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Kevin J. Thibault, P.E. “The Safe Mobility for Life Coalition’s collaborative and multifaceted approach helps people drive safely longer while promoting various safe and efficient transportation modes such as walking, biking, transit, and ridesharing.”
The Safe Mobility for Life Coalition is partnering with the Florida Department of Elder Affairs’ Area Agencies on Aging to safely distribute materials through Meals on Wheels programs across the state. Online resources to help Florida’s aging population build a transportation plan
will also be available to encourage planning at home.
Older Driver Safety Awareness Week is a time to encourage people to stay safe while remaining mobile. With the right resources, people can be informed about their choices on how they can continue to get around so they can remain independent and active in their communities, even after transitioning from driving.
Floridians are encouraged to visit fdot.tips/ODSAW20 to learn more on how to build and implement a well-rounded transportation plan that fits their unique needs. Find out how to incorporate options such as walking to a nearby transit stop, requesting a ride to a local shopping center, or biking to nearby homes of friends and family.
Also at the above link, people can register for a kick-off webinar that takes place Monday, December 7, at 2:00 p.m. Stakeholders and media can access toolkits with graphics, social media content, videos, and additional materials to help spread the word.
For more information and materials about the Safe Mobility for Life Coalition, visit SafeMobilityFL.com.