Published on Thursday, November 23, 2006
in the Tampa Bay Online

Troopers Out To Ensure Safe Holiday Driving

Col. Chris Knight, director of the Florida Highway Patrol, announced Tuesday that the seventh phase of Operation Safe Ride, a long-term Florida Highway Patrol enforcement campaign that focuses on varying traffic themes, will target unlawful speed violators, according to a patrol news release.

The operations goals include increasing compliance of posted speed limits and to reduce the number of speed-related deaths and injuries in the state.

Greater compliance to speed limits would go a long way toward curbing the number of traffic related deaths in our state, said Knight. Motorists must recognize that speeding, in fact, increases the likelihood of a crash and its severity.

The patrol also reminds all motorists that traffic will increase along Floridas roadways during the upcoming 120-hour Thanksgiving holiday weekend, continuing through midnight Sunday.

In order to increase the patrols presence on Florida roadways, Knight suspended office operations for all sworn personnel effective at the close of the workday on Tuesday.

All FHP sworn personnel normally assigned to administrative duties will be reassigned to patrol duties on high volume roadways throughout the holiday period.

Based on our experience, we know that a black and tan patrol car tends to bring the best driving behavior out of people, thats why every available trooper and supervisor is being assigned to patrol duties during this time, said Knight.

The increased visibility our troopers provide during holiday periods is of immeasurable benefit to the motoring public. Our troopers, however, need the publics help to reduce fatalities and personal injury collisions. We ask motorists not to drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol and not to drive tired or drowsy (fatigued).

It is important that motorists take responsibility for their own driving actions and obey all traffic laws, Knight said.

Our troopers will be out in force watching for those drivers who choose to break the law by driving in ways that endanger themselves and others, he said.

2005 FHP Statistics

During last years Thanksgiving holiday period, troopers issued more than 9,000 citations for traffic related violations.

Of those, 7,368 drivers were cited for speeding, 1,630 for safety belt and child restraint violations, and 88 drivers were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs (DUI). FHP troopers also provided roadside assistance to over 3,587 motorists, the news release states.

It should be noted that according to preliminary statistics released by the highway patrol, during last years Thanksgiving holiday period statewide, 66 persons were killed in 54 crashes: 27 or 71 percent of those drivers and passengers who were killed in vehicles equipped with safety belts were not using them.

While no figures for Hardee and Highlands counties for Thanksgiving were available on Wednesday, Hardee had 9 fatalities for all of 2005 and Highlands had 33. Of those, five fatalities in Hardee were alcohol-related, with 16 in Highlands.

Of the 66 Thanksgiving fatalities statewide, 33 were the drivers, 15 were passengers, 12 were pedestrians and six were bicyclists. The 54 fatal crashes in 2005 were pretty evenly spread out over the long weekend with 10 on Wednesday, 10 on Thursday, 12 on Friday, 11 on Saturday and 11 on Sunday.

Tow To Go

Joanna Newton, senior project manager for public and government relations with the AAA Auto Club South, and Mandy Llanes, southeast region manager, consumer awareness and education, with Anheuser-Busch, announced Tuesday that the Tow To Go program, is again available from Thanksgiving through New Years.

With Tow To Go drivers are offered a confidential ride home and tow free of charge to anyone in the state who may have had too much to drink and needs a ride from a bar or restaurant, simply by calling 1-800-AAA-HELP.

AAA and Budweiser also encourage people who plan on consuming alcohol to choose a designated driver, (one who is not drinking at all) to provide a safe ride home.

When Spotting Problem Drivers

FHP urges motorists to contact the patrol or local law enforcement officials when spotting an impaired, aggressive, or dangerous driver.

To reach the Florida Highway Patrol, dial *FHP (*347) from a cellular phone. Callers can remain anonymous. Motorists who experience car trouble on the highway or otherwise need assistance from the patrol are also encouraged to use *FHP.

For real-time traffic and road condition reports, as well as maps and other safety tips, the public is urged to visit the FHP Web site at www.flhsmv.gov/fhp. Where available, motorists with a cell phone can also dial 511.