July 2023July - Dec. 2023As I travel throughout District One, I see motorists, pedestrians and cyclists traveling on our roadways for work, school, and recreation. I notice that not everyone on the roads has the same level of attention, awareness, or experience. Everyone has different personalities, and those personalities often appear in the way people drive. We have many different conditions that affect the driving experience in Florida. Our weather can change quickly and is often severe. Other factors include millions of visitors to our state every year, significant increase in population, and the demand for new housing developments. All of this reinforces the importance of initiatives like Target Zero and the Safe System Approach to help us reduce the number of fatal and serious injury crashes on our roadways. The District One Safety Team works with many of our D1 staff to make improvements on our system as well as partnering with stakeholders across the district to educate and inform citizens on this holistic approach to address roadway safety. Our commitment to reducing the number of fatal and serious injury crashes means doing all we can to improve roadway safety in a collaborative and transparent manner. Members of the Safety Team attend public meetings and hearings to answer questions from residents and discuss possible roadway treatments to improve safety. Our efforts continue to focus on developing safety initiatives to reduce crashes in areas such as lane departures, intersections, and roadway lighting. Rumble strips, typically used to alert drivers to avoid running off a roadway, are being installed in multiple locations throughout the district. We continue to work with District Maintenance and local agencies for lighting projects, and our Before-After Studies on various safety projects are providing us with evidence on how these treatments are improving safety for roadway users. We are fortunate to have proactive Community Traffic Safety Teams, coalition partners, and law enforcement partnerships throughout the district that extend our reach in many areas. We have awesome volunteers who attend outreach events and engage with people of all ages in many programs including bicycle safety for school children, aggressive driving tips for all drivers, CarFit programs for senior drivers, and the World Day of Remembrance to name a few. Finally, our two new Safety & Health Specialists deployed with teams from our Operations Center to help in the cleanup of Hurricane Idalia.I am excited about the possibilities that 2024 brings. We will be hosting a Highway Safety interactive event for kids, families, and young adults to explore and learn about vehicles, trucks, and traffic safety. Additionally, we will launch a pilot program and partnership with Polk County School district to bring traffic safety educational programs to all students and specific programs aimed at targeting teen drivers. Through collaborative commitment, our efforts will undoubtedly help bring us closer to our goal of zero fatal and serious injury crashes.Keith RobbinsSHOUTOUTSAFETYSAFETYDISTRICT ONEMESSAGE FROM KEITH ROBBINS D1 SAFETY ADMINISTRATORKeith Robbins, PhDD1 Safety AdministratorCheck Out the New Safety Website Scan the QR code See page 3
2Our goal is zero fatalities and serious injuries on our roadways. FDOT District One Safety Follows the Safe System ApproachSAFE SYSTEM APPROACHThe Safe System Approach has been adopted by the U. S. Department of Transportation as the guiding paradigm to address roadway safety.Principles of a Safe System ApproachOn the circumference is a band with six safe system principles: • Death and serious injuries are unacceptable• Humans make mistakes• Humans are vulnerable• Responsibility is shared• Safety is proactive• Redundancy is crucialInside the circle is divided into five sections with logos representing each section: • Safer vehicles• Safer speeds • Safer roads• Post-crash care• Safer peopleObjectives of a Safe System ApproachThe Safety Ofce’s goals are to:• Incorporate a safety mindset from the start in all projects, • Look at ALL options and opportunties to reduce fatal and severe crashes in our District, • Develop partnerships wth staff, local agencies, ofcials, and all stakeholders, and• Use the Safe System Approach for educating and protecting all road users. There are ve complimentary objectives corresponding to the Safe System Approach. Safer PeopleEncourage safe, responsible driving and behavior by people who use our roads and create conditions that prioritize their ability to reach their destination unharmed.Safer RoadsDesign roadway environments to mitigate human mistakes and account for injury tolerances, to encourage safer behaviors, and to facilitate safe travel by the most vulnerable users.Safer VehiclesExpand the availability of vehicle systems and features that help to prevent crashes and minimize the impact of crashes on both occupants and non-occupants.Safer SpeedsPromote safer speeds in all roadway environments through a combination of thoughtful, equitable, context-appropriate roadway design, appropriate speed-limit setting, targeted education, outreach campaigns, and enforcement.Post-Crash CareEnhance the survivability of crashes through expedient access to emergency medical care, while creating a safe working environment for vital rst responders and preventing secondary crashes through robust trafc incident management practices.
3https://www.swflroads.com/d1safety/(Sept. 15) - Governor Ron DeSantis highlighted state efforts of clearing debris from roads to expedite hurricane recovery. District One Operations and Maintenance Teams from Bartow, Mantaee, and Fort Myers - including Thomas Holmes and Tracy Berry from District One’s Industrial Health and Safety Team - utilized rapid response to support relief efforts for communities impacted by Hurricane Idalia. The team brought relief to Big Bend communities with cut-and-toss debris removal. Working long hours to remove trees and debris from the roadways, more than 100,000 cubic yards was removed in two weeks.Hurricane Idalia EortsDISTRICT ONEDistrict One Safety Launches New WebsiteThe Safety Team has a new communication tool to interact with its various stakeholders -- web pages that are part of SWFLRoads.com.This public-facing webpage contains information available to everyone about safety initiatives such as roundabouts and pedestrian crossings, and also safety-related quizzes to test your driving knowledge. You will also nd a calendar for upcoming meetings and events as well as safety campaigns.https://www.swflroads.com/d1safety/
4Our goal is zero fatalities and serious injuries on our roadways. BY THE NUMBERS (2023)12Pedestrian Hybrid Beacons activated this year enhancing motorist visibility of pedestrians.23Safety Projects created this year.300hours of safety training provided by the Industrial Health & Safety Team to District One employees through monthly meetings, tailgates, and occupational safety topics.92Community Traffic Safety Team meetings attended.1,500miles of rumble strips installed on 550 centerline miles alerting drivers of lane departure . Over$37.4million of safety funds programmed or brought in as candidate projects this year.789 light fixtures purchased and installed this year improving visibility on our roadways.18 18 of of Top 20 Top 20 CorridorsCorridorsReduction in fatal and serious injury crashesReduction in fatal and serious injury crashesless fatal & serious injury crashes for 2022-2023on Top 20 corridors2212212015 - 20211,924 crashes (6.45 FSI per mile/per year)2022-2023328 crashes (3.85 FSI per mile/per year)Fatal & Serious Injury CrashesFatal & Serious Injury Crashes
5https://www.swflroads.com/d1safety/ LOOKING AHEAD (2024)NEW Pilot ProgramPolk County Traffic Safety EducationDistrict One Safety Team is committed to delivering a safety education program to elementary, middle, and high school students in Polk County. Program consists of traffic safety topics such as teen driving, pedestrian and bicycle safety, occupant protection, and more.District One2024 Safety InitiativesDistrict One Safety Team is partnering with Lee County Sheriff Office for a family-friendly interactive, community safety day focused on road safety.Come out and explore large trucks, construction equipment, fire trucks, ambulances, and a variety of law enforcement vehicles. This event will offer an opportunity for children and adults to get up close with a variety of vehicles, meet the people who operate the vehicles, and learn about each vehicle’s purpose. Law Enforcement PartnershipsDistrict One started a pilot program with Polk County law enforcement agencies to conduct bi-monthly saturation patrols. The goal is to conduct an enhanced safety operation every other month. For example, in January the focus is on Move Over or Slow Down. See page 19 for more information.&Community Safety DayTOUCH A TRUCKPLANNING UNDERWAY
6Our goal is zero fatalities and serious injuries on our roadways. Our target is zero fatalities and serious injuries, because no other number is acceptable.On November 15, 2023, FDOT District One employees spent the day at Bartow Elementary Academy as part of the Great American Teach-In. Employees from Bartow Operations Center joined Theresa Chestnut, Tammy Sutton, and Edie Rosenthal from D1 Safety Office along with firefighters, law enforcement officers, electricians, and forest rangers to present information about safety and careers. The annual event encourages students to explore their hopes and dreams and get excited about careers in transportation.Great American Teach-InEvery year in November, schools around the country participate in the Great American Teach-In to celebrate American Education Week.
7https://www.swflroads.com/d1safety/For the D1 Safety Office, the Great American Teach-In provided an opportunity to interact with 544 students, kindergarten through 5th grade, talking about some important road safety topics, including how to use a crosswalk, proper way to wear a bicycle helmet, railroad safety, and bicycle and pedestrian safety.Other participants at Bartow Elementary Academy’s Great American Teach-In included: Bartow Fire Department, Bartow Electric, Bartow Police Department, Florida Forest Service/Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and RS&H. Our target is zero fatalities and serious injuries, because no other number is acceptable.Education ~ Enforcement ~ Emergency Services ~ Engineering
8Our goal is zero fatalities and serious injuries on our roadways. TARGET ZERO Memorial service honors those killed or seriously injured in road crashes World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic VictimsFDOT District One Safety Administrator, Keith Robbins, and employees from the Manatee Operations Center joined law enforcement, traffic safety advocates, and families of traffic victims gathered together in Bradenton on Nov. 17th for World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims.For Melissa Wandall, the event was especially poignant because the location of the commemoration is the same spot where she lost her husband, Mark, in a car crash caused by a red-light runner. His death in 2003 came less than three weeks before she would give birth to their daughter, Madisyn.“One decision can alter a lifetime when you disobey a traffic law,” said Melissa Wandall, president of National Coalition for Safe Roads and ambassador for Florida’s Target Zero. Florida Highway Patrol Cpl. David Brunner recalled investigating the crash and having to deliver the devastating news to Melissa that her husband was killed by a distracted driver who had taken their eyes off the road while picking up a dropped sippy cup.Cpl. Brunner explained that it only took one-tenth of a second for this distracted driver to take away a husband, and a soon-to-be father from the family who loved him.District One Safety Administrator, Keith Robbins with Melissa Wandall, president of National Coalition for Safe Roads.Manatee County Sheriff Rick Wells was also at the scene of the crash 20 years ago. “What happened here was avoidable,” he said, “One careless driver has devastated a family.”“There’s only so much engineering we can do to fix a road or make our roads safer,” said Keith Robbins. “Law enforcement can do things, but there’s only so much they can do. Ultimately, it comes down to the driver behind the wheel. Human behavior is the No. 1 cause for crashes on roadways.”Forty-nine candles spelled out the word “zero” to honor those killed or seriously injured representing more than 4,900 people in District One who have been killed or seriously injured on roadways over the past ten years.Target Zero aims at reducing the number of people killed or seriously injured in crashes to zero.
9https://www.swflroads.com/d1safety/TARGET ZEROABOVE LEFT (Left to Right) Manatee County Sheri Rick Wells, Melissa Wandall, Cpl. David Brunner, Florida Highway Patrol, and District One Safety Administrator, Keith RobbinsMelissa Wandall being interviewed by media representatives. Cpl. David Brunner, Florida Highway Patrol Keith Robbins speaking at the World Day of Remembrance event.TARGETFATALITIES & SERIOUS INJURIESThe World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims is an international effort to honor loved ones who were killed or seriously injured in crashes - motor vehicle, pedestrian, bicycle or motorcycle. The event also highlights Florida’s Target Zero initiative to reduce the number of transportation-related injuries and deaths across Florida to zero.Education ~ Enforcement ~ Emergency Services ~ Engineering
10Our goal is zero fatalities and serious injuries on our roadways. SAFER ROADS(Sept. 28) Brent Setchell and Nicole Monies from District One, along with fStop Foundation and the Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation, hosted a field trip tour of the I-4 wildlife crossing project in Lakeland. The project will reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions which increases motorist safety as well as improves habitat connectivity so wildlife can survive and thrive in the face of a increasing development. Located 1.6 miles east of the I-4/SR 33 interchange, this project supports wildlife crossings with an innovative 44-foot wide bridge crossing over the interstate. You can check out other FDOT Wildlife Bridge Cossings online at: https://fdot.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id= a105b26615f64b19b543eb9ab61fe197SAFETY IS EVERYONE’S RESPONSIBILITY.Wildlife Bridge Crossing on I-4
Innovation Expo at District OneDistrict One held its Districtwide Innovation Expo on Nov. 2nd. The expo provided the opportunity for work units to showcase their innovative ideas or processess. The Safety Ofce presented four innovative ideas:Safety Culture AppThis mobile app replaced paper forms used by the Industrial Heatlh and Safety Team. Tracy Berry, from the Manatee Ops Center, talked to attendees about the versatility of the app as it can be used as an asset management tool, set reminders, and ability to add photos.Top 20 Safety MatrixScott Castro presented information on how using Fatal & Serious Injury crash data helps inform decision-makers by identifying the top 20 corridors in the District where attention can be focused to deliver the most benet to reduce fatal and serious injury crashes. Pavement Arrow MessagesPedestrian assembly buttons are not always in ideal locations to know which button applies to which crossing. Rob Swann presented his idea (pictured right) of adding simple, preformed arrows located at the base of the pedestrian pushbutton to conrm the direction of the pushbutton for the pedestrian. Not only would the arrows reduce frustration for pedestrians, it would also prevent reduction of vehicle mobility if the wrong button is activated.In-House Training focused on Employee SafetyPreviously contracted out, employee training was limited, costly, and inconsistent for employess district wide. The solution, as presented by Tracy Berry, was in-house training offered by the Industrial Health and Safety Team (Safety Ofce) to ensure uniformity and consistency across the District. Training is available for life-saving techniques such as CPR, First Aid, and how to use an automated external debrillator (AED). 11https://www.swflroads.com/d1safety/SAFER ROADSEducation ~ Enforcement ~ Emergency Services ~ Engineering
Public Meeting - SR 70 Median Modification (Bradenton)(Oct. 3) Members of District One Safety Oice and Access Management joined together for a public meeting in Bradenton to discuss the proposed changes to three intersections along SR 70, including 66th Street East, 24th Street East, and 18th Street Blvd East. The proposed changes include median modifications to reduce conflict points and increase safety at the intersections and reduce the risk of crashes. Public Meeting - SR 865 & Loma Linda (Fort Myers) 12Our goal is zero fatalities and serious injuries on our roadways. (Aug. 8) Members of Florida Department of Transportation District One held a public meeting to discuss road improvements along SR 865 in Fort Myers with the intent of enhancing safety along the corridor. Proposed improvements include constructing chicanes, or concrete traffic islands, which will narrow the roadway to discourage speeding. The SAFER ROADSSAFETY IS EVERYONE’S RESPONSIBILITY.chicanes will be constructed in each direction on SR 865. Two additional traffic islands are proposed within the existing two-way left-turn lane for additional traffic calming. Additional improvements include installation of new signage and pavement markings. The Department is also exploring additional safety improvements as the design project progresses.
(Aug. 15) Members of the District One Safety Office and Access Management joined together for a public meeting on Aug. 15th to discuss the proposed changes to the intersection at Lyle Parkway and US 98 in Bartow. The proposed changes include median modifications to reduce conflict points and increase safety at the intersection. Changes include converting the full median opening to a two-way directional median opening. The proposed safety improvement will remove crossing movements of US 98 from Lyle Parkway and require motorists to make right turns onto US 98 with U-turns at the adjacent median openings. Left turns onto Lyle Parkway will continue to be permitted.Public Meeting - Lyle Pkwy & US 98 (Bartow) 13https://www.swflroads.com/d1safety/SAFER ROADSEducation ~ Enforcement ~ Emergency Services ~ Engineering
14Our goal is zero fatalities and serious injuries on our roadways. SAFER ROADSCortez Road Corridor Vision Workshop(Oct. 18) The Cortez Road Corridor Vision and Action Plan was led by FDOT District One Planning Studio, with support from the Safety Office, in a partnership with Manatee County, Sarasota-Manatee MPO, local communities and other stakeholders. The project will develop an integrated land use and transportation vision for the Cortez Road corridor and define multi-modal transportation strategies and complementary land use policies to guide the evolution of the corridor.Residents and business owners along the Cortez Road corridor were invited to participate in a community workshop to help identify existing conditions and potential opportunities to improve the corridor. Feedback and ideas will help shape and inform the design and development of the corridor in the future.SAFETY IS EVERYONE’S RESPONSIBILITY.
15https://www.swflroads.com/d1safety/SAFER PEOPLE(Aug. 9) Through coordination by District One’s Industrial Health and Safety Team, Manatee County Sheriff Lt. Robert Andrews provided active shooter training in August to employees at the Manatee Operations Center. Mass shootings are especially terrifying because it can happen without warning in seemingly any location. Last year, there were 50 active shooter incidents in the United States, with 313 people killed or injured. Training, like this one, is critical to organizations to help reduce the number of active shooter incidents and minimize the risk of becoming victims. Active Shooter TrainingStop the Bleed Training(Oct. 11) The Industrial and Safety Team provided training to equip and empower employees at the Manatee Operations Center to help in a bleeding emergency. No matter how fast professional emergency responders arrive, bystanders who are on the scene can quickly stop the blood loss. A person who is bleeding can die from blood loss within five minutes, therefore it is important to quickly “stop the bleed.”(Right) Lori Weakley, Maintenance Manager/Contracts, demonstrates how to apply a tourniquet on fellow worker, Mike Adams, Contracts Coordinator.Education ~ Enforcement ~ Emergency Services ~ Engineering
16Our goal is zero fatalities and serious injuries on our roadways. SAFER PEOPLESAFETY IS EVERYONE’S RESPONSIBILITY.(Nov. 30) Local law enforcement in Polk County, in partnership with District One Law Enforcement Liaison and the FDOT District One Community Traffic Safety Team spent a day in Lakeland jointly informing pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists on best practices when using and approaching Pedestrian Hybrid Beacons (PHBs). Because more than 300 pedestrians use US 92, Memorial Blvd, in Lakeland each day, District One installed four PHBs to provide a safe option for pedestrians to cross the busy roadway. However, there has been a compliance issue with cars not stopping when the pedestrian light turns red resulting in pedestrians avoiding the crosswalks.During the outreach and enforcement campaign, FDOT volunteers and law enforcement officers patrolled the area on foot and by vehicle, talking with pedestrians and bicyclist providing educational materials and pedestrian and bicycle safety as well as safety lights and reflective bands. Motorists who failed to stop at the crosswalk received either a warning or citation.FDOT volunteers were led by Theresa Chestnut and Tammy Sutton, and included John Kubicki, Scott Castro, Amy Ao from Safety Work Program, Edie Rosenthal and Mary Weber from Safety Education and Outreach, and Jeremy Stucker from Traffic Services. Florida Law Enforcement Liaison Janice Martinez coordinated Law Enforcement participation, including three members of the Florida Highway Patrol, four members of the Polk County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Unit, four motorcycle traffic unit officers from Lakeland Police Department, and three other Lakeland Police officers. Pedestrian Safety Outreach and Enforcement Campaign
17https://www.swflroads.com/d1safety/SAFER PEOPLERESULTS OF THE TWO-HOUR ENFORCEMENT EFFORT:• 54 citations were issued to motorists. (The citations were a combination of PHB violations as well as non-compliance of wearing seatbelts and outdated registration, etc.)• 12 warnings were issued to motorists. • Approximately 50 pedestrians issued educational materials.• No pedestrians were cited.Education ~ Enforcement ~ Emergency Services ~ Engineering
18Our goal is zero fatalities and serious injuries on our roadways. PARTNERSHIPSSAFETY IS EVERYONE’S RESPONSIBILITY.(July 26) FDOT hosted the 2023 Florida Law Enforcement Traffic Safety Challenge Training Event and Awards Ceremony in Orlando. The two-day event included law enforcement training, a networking breakfast, and awards ceremony. District One Community Traffic Safety Team (CTST) Coordinator Theresa Chestnut represented District One along with the District’s Law Enforcement Liaison, Janice Martinez. The Florida Law Enforcement Liaison Traffic Safety Challenge recognizes the best overall traffic safety programs in Florida. The areas of concentration include efforts to enforce traffic safety laws and educate the public about distracted and impaired driving, motorcycle safety, occupant protection and child passenger safety, pedestrian and bicycle safety, speed and aggressive driving, and other area issues that impact the safety of roadway users. This challenge supports the goal of encouraging increased statewide enforcement of traffic safety laws to reduce traffic crashes, serious injuries, and fatalities.“This event offers the opportunity to spend time with hundreds of law enforcement officers from around the state and share resources available to promote safety messages,” said Theresa Chestnut, who hosted the CTST booth as well as assisted with the Safe Mobility for Life Coalition. In addition to relationship-building, the event provided an opportunity to distribute safety-related materials and raise awareness for district CTST programs.2022 DRE Officer of the Year Officer William Dotson Cape Coral Police DepartmentDistrict One Community Traffic Safety Team Coordinator, Theresa Chestnut.3rd Place Award Traffic Safety Challenge Category 9 was awarded to Florida Highway Patrol Troop C (covering Polk County) FLORIDA LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAFFIC SAFETY CHALLENGE AWARDS
19https://www.swflroads.com/d1safety/FLORIDA LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAFFIC SAFETY CHALLENGE AWARDSPARTNERSHIPSEnforcement is one of the vital pillars in achieving the goal of zero fatalities and serious injuries on our roadways. While no one enjoys getting a traffic citation, it serves as a reminder that Florida has laws to keep road users safe.District One’s Safety Office partners with 50 law enforcement agencies throughout the district for one goal – Save Lives! (Nov. 22) Law Enforcement agencies in Polk County conduct bi-monthly saturation patrol campaigns targeting specific driving behavior. The first detail included all 12 agencies from Polk County with a focus on speed enforcement.(Nov. 30) District One Safety Office partnered with the Lakeland Police Department, Polk County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Highway Patrol for an enforcement and education initiative. Roads are busy, especially this time of year. On this day, along with the normal enforcement actions, safety team members were out educating users of the Pedestrian Hybrid Beacons on Memorial Boulevard. High Visibility Enforcement is a universal traffic safety approach designed to create deterrence and change unlawful traffic behaviors. Police Officers combines highly visible and proactive law enforcement while targeting a specific traffic safety issue. The goal of this data driven enforcement program is to reduce traffic crashes resulting in serious and fatalities. By working together, we are on our way to the ultimate goal of ZERO fatality crashes. #TargetZeroFL SATURATION PATROLSEducation ~ Enforcement ~ Emergency Services ~ Engineering
WHITE CANE DAY Sarasota, Florida 20Our goal is zero fatalities and serious injuries on our roadways. (Oct. 13) FDOT District One Safety Administrator Keith Robbins, along with volunteers from the District One Mobility Week Team, joined partners Melissa Wandall, Ambassador for Target Zero Florida & President of the National Coalition for Safer Roads, Lighthouse Vision Loss Education Center, Sarasota Police Department, MADD, and spokesperson, Cooper Vollmer, to celebrate White Cane Day on October 13, at Paul N. Thorpe, Jr. Park in Sarasota. White Cane Day is celebrated during National Pedestrian Safety Month and emphasizes and acknowledges the efforts of our partners to keep the blind and visually impaired safe as pedestrians on our roadways.
Sarasota, Florida(Aug. 22) Members of District One Safety teamed up with Traffic Operations to present important safety information to residents at Noah’s Ark of Central Florida, an independent living community in Lakeland for adults with developmental disabilities. The team brought a traffic signal light and mock crosswalk for students to practice crossing the street safely whether on foot or bicycle.“It is important to provide educational programs like this one because these are some of our most vulnerable road users and we need to provide them with as much exposure as possible to safe roadway practices,” said TSM&O Engineer Neal Turner. “That applies as a pedestrians, bicyclists, and drivers. Educational opportunities such as this give people the tools to make safe and smart decisions on the roadway.” FDOT team included:• Neal Turner, Arterials Engineer, Traffic Operations• Cory Snyder, FMS/AMS Specialist, Traffic Operations• Theresa Chestnut, Community Traffic Safety Program Coordinator, Safety Office• Tammy Sutton, Traffic Safety Specialist & Safety ADA Coordinator, Safety OfficeCrosswalk Education for Vulnerable Road Users 21https://www.swflroads.com/d1safety/COMMUNITY OUTREACHEducation ~ Enforcement ~ Emergency Services ~ Engineering
Bonita Springs Charter School Bike Rodeo & Helmet Fitting(Nov. 3) Some 140 students participated in the Bonita Springs Charter School Bike Rodeo and Helmet Fitting event. ShareCare Florida, in partnership with Bonita Springs Charter School, Bikes for Tykes, Caloosa Riders, Friends of BERT, the City of Bonita Springs, and the Lee County Sheriff’s Office hosted a bicycle helmet fitting and bike rodeo for the1st Grade classes in the Elementary School program. The FDOT Traffic Safey Outreach and Education team volunteered to set up the course for bicycles, scooters, and sit-and-scoots and guide young riders in safely navigating obstacles in roadways. Three sessions of students (140 children in total) participated in three stations. Each student visited the helmet fitting station, learned about the bicycle rodeo, and then tried out the course based on their skill level. Students who did not bring a helmet in were provided a helmet donated through the Florida’s Pedestrian and Bicycling Safety Resource Center. Students received a special treat provided by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office Ice Cream Truck. 22Our goal is zero fatalities and serious injuries on our roadways. COMMUNITY OUTREACH
25th Annual Hispanic Festival of Lakeland 23https://www.swflroads.com/d1safety/(Sept 30) District partners from Tri-County Human Services supported the 25th Annual Hispanic Festival of Lakeland. The Trac Safety Outreach & Education Team in District One provided Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over banners and Law Enforcement Liaison Janice Martinez provided yard signs for display at their outreach events. Tri-County Human Services provides Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services to Polk, Hardee, and Highlands Counties. Bertha Zamora, DUI Program Supervisor and supporter of the District’s Community Trac Safety Teams (CTSTs), provided informational materials for services they oer and displayed FDOT’s support of their mission.COMMUNITY OUTREACH(Nov. 4) The City of Arcadia and Arcadia Main Street, with partner Bert’s Harley Davidson, hosted the 4th Annual Bert’s Arcadia Bike Fest. This event draws hundreds of motorcycle enthusiasts from around the state, and hosted 27 vendors. The Florida Department of Transportation’s Motorcycle Safety Coalition (Ride Smart Florida), represented by FDOT District 1 staff Joe Glorioso, and Ride Smart partners Michael and Lynn Dobbs, participated in this event alongside our DeSoto County CTST partners Karen Smoke, local bicycling advocate, and Denise McAlister from Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD). FDOT and coalition partners distributed motorcycle safety related educational materials and items such as bumper stickers and other giveaways.4th Annual Arcadia Bike Fest Education ~ Enforcement ~ Emergency Services ~ Engineering
24Our goal is zero fatalities and serious injuries on our roadways. COMMUNITY OUTREACHTrucker Appreciation Day(Sept 15) District One volunteers greeted truck drivers, as part of Trucker Appreciation Day, as they arrived at SeaPort Manatee and thanked them for tirelessly delivering America’s critical goods.The team provided the truckers with food and information about road safety. The event honored the professional truck drivers who deliver America’s freight safely and securely. Not only do truckers travel to and from destinations delivering essential products and cargo, but they also inspect their vehicles for mechanical issues or safety concerns. Truckers left SeaPort Manatee knowing that they were appreciated.Education ~ Enforcement ~ Emergency Services ~ Engineering
25https://www.swflroads.com/d1safety/Heartland Operations Peace River Supports DeSoto County Christmas Parade(Dec. 2) Volunteers from Heartland Operations Peace River participated in the DeSoto County Christmas parade handing out different FDOT literature on safety, including Target Zero logo promotional items such as cool neck towels, sunglasses, FDOT glass wipes, bags, boat key keychains, and candy. The team also passed out DeSoto County fact cards, DeSoto stickers, and a real shark teeth fossils. Typical attendance for the parade is 1,500 to 2,000 people. However, according to the Chamber of Commerce, this year’s parade drew at least 3,500 people. “The parade has never been so big,” said Samantha Roan, Heartlands Operations Peace River Records Technician. “It was a great parade to participate in! We were able to show the community that FDOT cares and that we want to be involved as well as sharing our mission of zero fatalities and serious injuries.” The following Heartland Employees participated in the parade:Kevin Harvard – Peace River (Driver)Samantha Roan – Peace River (Driver)Guillermo Salinas – LaBelle (Walker)Jose Aguilar – Peace River (Walker) Thomas Gibson – Peace River ( Walker)
Bikes for Tykes - NaplesKyle Kemmish, from the FDOT District One Safety Office, joined Mobility Week partners to provide support to Bike for Tykes, Inc. This organization offers a mobile bike repair shop at the Golden Gate Farmer’s Market in Naples, Florida. FDOT provided helmet fittings and free bicycle helmets, as well as safety-related educational materials. Many adults and children attended this outdoor event. 26Our goal is zero fatalities and serious injuries on our roadways. Heartland Operations Peace River Employee Training(Dec.11) Heartland Operations Peace River held a Safety Training Day for their team. As part of the training, employees donned the Fatal Vision Impairment Goggles, which simulate the effects of being under the influence of alcohol, illegal drugs or overdosing on prescription medication. The goggles deliver a memorable lesson on the topic of impaired driving. (Above) Employees attempt to walk a straight line with the impairment goggles.(Left Center) Employees toss a bean bag in a game of corn hole, while wearing the impairment goggles. COMMUNITY OUTREACHEducation ~ Enforcement ~ Emergency Services ~ Engineering
27https://www.swflroads.com/d1safety/2023 Community Traffic Safety Team InitiativesCommunity Traffic Safety Teams (CTST) play a critical role in traffic safety, connecting local communities, identifying priority problems, and implementing countermeasures. District One’s CTST, lead by Theresa Chestnut, is committed to reducing traffic crashes, injuries, and fatalities. Through monthly meetings with community and law enforcement partners, the CTST team addresses local roadway concerns. With the District consisting of 12 counties, 12,000 miles, and over 1.8 million residents, this is key to identifying and reporting problems on local roadways.During 2023, 60 action item requests were received from 92 meetings. Some items resolved this year include:• Alerting Traffic Operations and Polk County regarding faulty left turn arrow at Polk Parkway entrance.• Connecting Team Punta Gorda in Charlotte County with District Landscape Architect for permission to plant in FDOT right-of-way• Identifying maintenance improvements through a Road Safety Audit (RSA) conducted in Collier County• Installing and repairing Median Modifications at US 17/Experiment Station Road in Polk County• Installing new fire station guide signs in Glades County • Addition of No Turn signage at entrance to SB I-75 at US 301 in Manatee County• Coordination with Collier County/Traffic Ops to check timing at Collier Blvd/Manatee Rd.• Coordination with City of Sarasota Public Works to inspect lighting on SR 780 (Fruitville Rd)Glades County CTST meetingMedian modication at US 17 and Experiment Station Road in Polk CountyOne of the new re station guide signs in Glades County60 action items from 92 CTST meetings
The District One Safety website has a variety of traffic safety quizzes to test your knowledge. Check it out online at https://www.swflroads.com/Safety QuizzesMove Over or Slow Down, FloridaFloridians must slow down and move over for first responders, tow trucks and municipal vehicles. New changes to the law in 2024 require drivers to move over for ALL disabled vehicles displaying hazard lights, emergency flares, emergency signage, and for vehicles stopped with people present. Vehicles unable to move over must slow down 20 miles below the speed limit.District One Safety Office has a collection of resources available, including brochures, booklets, safety slides, Tip cards and a video library. Topics include:• Bicycle Safety• Fitting a Bike Helmet• Bicycling Booklet• Bike Signs and Signals• Safe Walking• Knowing Crosswalks• Teen Driving Tips• Stay at the Scene• Distracted Driving • Pedestrian Crossing Beacons• Speeding • Round-About Guides• Left-Turn Alternative Safety ResourcesFDOT staff can find resources on Safety Sharepoint pages:https://fldot.sharepoint.com/sites/D1-Safety/SitePages/Safety-Resources.aspxOutside of FDOT? Check out our website at https://www.swflroads.com/d1safety/• Speeding is generally defined as driving in excess of the posted speed limit or driving too fast for conditions and can have dangerous consequences including: Reducing the ability to navigate curves or around obstacles in the roadway; Extending the distance traveled before a vehicle can stop; Increasing the risk of crashes and injuries because other vehicles and pedestrians may not be able to judge distance accurately. • Be alert, watch for, and obey speed limit signs. Use extra caution in school zones, residential areas, and on secondary roads. • Remember that there is a reason for posted speed limits. Speed limits are designed to protect all – drivers, passengers, and pedestrians.Nearly 10,000 peopledie from speeding each year.*Drivers who SPEED have a greater chance of losing control of their vehicle.Speeding to keep up with the flow of traffic is ILLEGAL.SLOWDOWN!*Data is nationwide from a 2018 NHTSA report.Instead of risky left turnTurn right, then ...Make a safe U-TurnWhy didn’t I think of that?Safer Left TurnSafer Left TurnAlternativeAlternativeTheTheBe sure approaching vehicles are more than 200 feet away and the crosswalk is free of pedestrians or bicyclists. When your path is clear, make the U-turn. Turning right, then making a U-turn, is a much safer option.After the right turn, with your left signal on, safely move into the left lane and proceed to the next U-turn permitted intersection or median opening. Instead of making a left turn, make a right turn onto the road you wish to cross.Making a left turn onto busy roads without a traffic signal can be risky. TARGETFATALITIES & SERIOUS INJURIESFlorida Department of TransportationDistrict One801 N. Broadway AvenueBartow, FL 33838www.swroads.comhttp://e4safetyfl.com/• Prepare to stop when the Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon is flashing.• Once all pedestrians have cleared the crosswalk, proceed with caution.• If no one is crossing or about to cross, proceed with caution even if the beacons are still flashing.• Stop when a pedestrian is in the crosswalk even if the RRFB has not been activated.What Motorists Need to Know:SIMPLE STEPSTO BICYCLE SAFETYPROTECT YOUR HEADHelmets c reate an additional layer for the head andthus prot ect the wearer from some of the moresevere fo rms of traumatic brain injury. A helmetaims to r educe the risk of serious head and brai ninjuries by reducing the impact of a force or co llisionto the he ad.1OBEY TRAFFIC LIGHTS2Traffic s igns and traffic light signals apply to all roadusers. Cy clists must obey them. If you approach anintersect ion with a red traffic light, you are r equiredby law to come to a complete stop...just likevehicles.SEE AND BE SEEN3Dress to be seen. Wear bright clothing both duri ngthe day a nd night to increase your visibility.Alternati vely, you can wear a high-vis vest overyour dark clothing. A cyclist without lights or brightclothing is almost invisible to a driver until t he verylast mome nt. Prope r lighting is requir ed by law.WATCH FORROAD HAZARDS4Be aware of everything happening on theroad, inc luding any objects/hazards which couldquickly b ecome a hazard such as car doors,garbage b ins, children playing, etc. Maintain hi ghvisibilit y at all times, know the rules of the r oad,signal yo ur intentions appropriately.AVOID RIDING AT NIGHT5Biking at night is much more dangerous than ridi ngduring the day. If you must ride after dark, mak esure your bike has reflectors and a bright light onboth the front and rear. Wear reflective clothin g, anddon't ass ume that motorists can see you. Youngchildren should not ride at night.USE HAND SIGNALS6Like when you're driving a car and use lights tocommunica te, cycling hand signals serve as yourturn indi cators and brake lights. It's important toknow the proper ha nd signals to ensure both carsand other riders can understand what it is you'r egoing to do.FLTeenSafeDriver.orgAs with automobiles, it is important to let other drivers know if you are stoppingor turning. While a driver of a motorized vehicle use their blinkers or backuplights to communicate, as a driver of a bicycle, you will do this with handsignals. Bicycle Hand Signals 28Our goal is zero fatalities and serious injuries on our roadways.
29https://www.swflroads.com/d1safety/Traffic Safety CoalitionsThese coalitions bring multiple traffic safety partners together to make Florida’s roadways efficient and safe.http://www.flimpaireddriving.com/The Florida Impaired Driving Coalition was established with the mission of reducing impaired driving-related deaths and injuries.https://www.alerttodayflorida.com/Alert Today Florida is Florida’s Pedestrian & Bicycle Focused Initiative to remind all roadway users to share the road safely.https://ridesmartflorida.com/Ride Smart Florida is a complete resource for motorcyclists, and links to other websites related to motorcycle safety.The Florida Occupant Protection Coalition (FOPC) was formed to identify and prioritize Florida’s most pressing occupant protection issues.http://www.floccupantprotection.com/ http://safemobilityfl.com/Safe Mobility for Life Coalition’s mission is to reduce crashes by improving the safety, access, and mobility of Florida’s aging road users.The Florida Teen Safe Driving Coalition is comprised of more than 47 organizations committed to equipping teens with the knowledge, skills, and resources necessary to make informed decisions and responsible driving behaviors. https://flteensafedriver.org/Work Zone Safety CoalitionDistracted Driving CoalitionComing soon...Florida Lane Departure & Intersection Coalition
1-31 Move Over, Florida! Month9 Heartland TIM Team Meeting11 Polk TIM Team Meeting16 Helmet Fitting Training (Bartow)16 Manatee/Sarasota CTST Mtg 17 Hardee County CTST Meeting17 DeSoto County CTST Meeting20-27 National Passenger Safety Week January Move Over, Florida! Month1-29 Hit & Run Awarenessl Month1-2 Florida Impaired Driving Coalition Meeting (Orlando)1 Glades County CTST Meeting1 Hendry County CTST Meeting3 Ride for Tiny Town (Arcadia)3 Sarasota-Manatee TIM Team Meeting4 Collier-Lee-Charlotte TIM Team Mtg7 Polk County CTST Meeting8 Highlands County CTST Meeting11 Super Bowl LVIII Impaired Driving Awareness Fans Don’t Let Fans Drive DrunkFebruary Hit and Run Awareness Month - Stay at the Scene 1-31 Florida Bike Month 1-2 Chalo Nitka Festival & Rodeo (Moore Haven)4-10 Vehicle Safety Recalls Week6 Polk County CTST Meeting7 Glades County CTST Meeting7 Hendry County CTST Meeting17 St. Patrick’s Day impaired Driving Awareness - Buzzed Driving in Drunk Driving19 Manatee/Sarasota County CTST MtgMarch Florida Bike Month23 Safe Mobility for Life Coalition Meeting (LaBelle)24 Safe Mobility for Life- Car Fit & Resource Fair in LaBelle 24 Lee County CTST Meeting25 Collier County CTST Meeting 30-31 Florida’s Pedestrian & Bicycle Safety Coalition Meeting (TBD) 12-13 Florida Teen Safe Driver Coalition Meeting (Orlando)13 Sarasota-Manatee TIM Team Meeting15 Okeechobee County CTST Meeting20 Manatee/Sarasota CTST Meeting21 Hardee County CTST Meeting21 DeSoto County CTST Meeting21-22 Florida Occupant Protection Coalition Meeting (Gainesville)22 Collier County CTST Meeting26 - Mar. 2 Chalo Nitka Fair Week (Moore Haven)28 Lee County CTST Meeting 20 Hardee County CTST Meeting20 DeSoto County CTST Meeting27 Charlotte County CTST Meeting27 Lee County CTST Meeting28 Collier County CTST Meeting29 Traffic Records Coordinating Committee Meeting (Tallahassee)* CTST - Community Traffic Safety Team** TIM - Traffic Incident Management 30Our goal is zero fatalities and serious injuries on our roadways. Calendar of Events & Campaigns
1-8 Distracted Driving Awareness - U Drive. U test. U Pay. Pay Attention or Pay the Price.2 Heartland TIM Team Meeting3-4 Safe Mobility for Life Coalition Meeting (Tallahassee)3 Polk County CTST Meeting4 Heartland TIM Team Meeting4 Glades County CTST Meeting4 Hendry County CTST Meeting9 Sarasota-Manatee TIM Team Meeting10 Collier-Lee-Charlotte TIM Team MeetingApril National Distracted Driving Awareness Month1-31 National Youth Traffic Safety Month1-31 National Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month1-31 National Bicycle Safety Month1 National Heatstroke Prevention Day1 Polk County CTST Meeting1-2 Motorcycle Safety Coalition Meeting (Tampa)2 Glades County CTST Meeting2 Hendry County CTST Meeting3 National Bike to School Day9-10 Florida Impaired Driving Coalition Meeting (Orlando)May 2-8 National Trailer Safety Week5 Polk County CTST Meeting6 Glades County CTST Meeting6 Hendry County CTST Meeting11 Sarasota-Manatee TIM Team Meeting11 National Ride to Work Day12 Collier-Lee-Charlotte TIM Team Meeting13 Okeechobee County CTST Meeting13 Highlands County CTST MeetingJune National Safety Month 11 Polk County TIM Team Meeting11 Highlands County CTST Meeting15 -19 National Work Zone Awareness Week16 Manatee/Sarasota County CTST Meeting17 Hardee County CTST Meeting17 DeSoto County CTST Meeting20 Drug-Impaired Driving Awareness - If You Feel Different, You Drive Different 23-24 Florida’s Pedestrian & Bicycle Safety Coalition Meeting (Tampa)24 Lee County CTST Meeting25 Collier County CTST Meeting15 Hardee County CTST Meeting15 DeSoto County CTST Meeting15-16 Florida Occupant Protection Coalition Meeting (Gainesville)17 Bike to School Day21 Manatee/Sarasota County CTST Mtg22 Lee County CTST Meeting22 Charlotte County CTST Meeting23 Collier County CTST Meeting 18 Manatee/Sarasota County CTST Mtg19 Hardee County CTST Meeting19 DeSoto County CTST Meeting21 Traffic Records Coordinating Committee Meeting (Tallahassee)26 Lee County CTST Meeting27 Collier County CTST Meeting27-28 Florida Teen Safe Driver Coalition Meeting (Orlando) National Youth Traffic Safety Month / National Bicycle Safety Month / Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month 31https://www.swflroads.com/d1safety/