As the Fourth of July approaches, the Florida Highway Patrol and the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office reminded Florida residents to drive safely and either designate a sober driver or call for a ride.
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.
Each year, more than 15,000 lives are saved in the U.S. because drivers and their passengers were wearing seat belts during a traffic crash, according to the DHSMV.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reports alcohol accounts for 47 percent of crash deaths on Independence Day. That's why officials are urging people to either designate a sober driver or call a taxi.
The DHSMV offers the following driving safety tips for this year’s Fourth of July weekend:
- Always buckle up. A seat belt 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 intoxicated drivers, traffic crashes, stranded or disabled motorists or suspicious incidents on the road.
Choose your ride this Fourth of July
The FCSO’s sheriff-taxi car can be seen around town reminding everyone that if you’re celebrating with alcohol this weekend, plan ahead for a safe ride home.
Calling a friend, a taxi, or an Uber will be a lot cheaper than taking a ride by a deputy sheriff to the Sheriff’s Green Roof Inn, aka the jail, deputies said. If you are arrested for DUI the taxi light will be “on” while you are in the back seat riding to jail.
“We had a great community response to the Memorial Day "Choose Your Ride" awareness campaign with only four arrests and we’re hoping for no arrests this time,” Sheriff Rick Staly said. “Have a safe Fourth of July weekend and choose a safe ride home. Don’t endanger yourself or others by driving impaired but if you do you will have a one way ride in our ‘taxi’ and you won’t like where it’s going.”
Patrol squads will have increased presence around Flagler County and DUI enforcement will increase from Friday through Tuesday in Palm Coast, Bunnell, and Flagler Beach with motorcycle, bike, and patrol units, officials said.
Marine units will also be patrolling Intracoastal Waterway in a joint effort with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s “Operation Dry Water” to promote boater safety and deter boating under the influence.
The Fabulous Fourth of July event occurs annually in Flagler Beach. The parade starts at 10 a.m. followed by a day full of activities, ending with a fireworks display at 9 p.m. Palm Coast Transportation Services is providing free “Park and Ride” shuttle services all day Tuesday.
Free parking is available at the Flagler Square (former Food Lion Plaza) with free shuttle service to Veterans Park. The shuttle service relieves traffic congestion over the Flagler Beach bridge and protects the sand dune parking concerns, officials said.