DHSMV, FHP and DOT URGE MOTORISTS TO
"STAY ALIVE…JUST DRIVE"

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, THURSDAY, March 2, 2006

TALLAHASSEE—The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV), the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP), and the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) gathered together to unveil "Stay Alive…Just Drive," a public safety campaign aimed at making Florida's roads safer.

As the population, number of licensed drivers and number of vehicles increase each year, so do the number of traffic fatalities. Preliminary numbers as of the date of this release show that 3,515 people died on Florida’s roads in 2005. This is an increase of almost 8 percent over the 2004 fatality report of 3,257.

"Our mission is to make Florida’s highways safe for our residents and visitors," said Fred Dickinson, DHSMV Executive Director. "We are urging motorists to take responsibility and to drive smarter. Crashes are preventable. We must all do our part."

"Most people today consider unsafe driving by others as a major personal threat to themselves and their families. We know that the majority of the factors that contribute to motor vehicle traffic crashes are mostly behavioral in nature. It is therefore imperative that motorists take driving seriously, develop self-initiated strategies that will help them drive less aggressively, learn to share the road, and remember that an attentive driver can avoid a crash," said Col. Christopher A. Knight, FHP Director.

"By working together in this concerted effort, we can make a difference to stop these tragedies on Florida’s roads," said Denver Stutler, FDOT Secretary. "DHSMV, FHP and FDOT urge anyone who gets behind a wheel to make sure they are sober, wearing their safety belt and free from distractions."

2006 Press Releases       DHSMV Press Releases