Information of Interest to Florida Drivers from Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles

How Tire Smart Are YOU? You already know that driving safely is important. And so is learning how to get the most out of your car by maintaining it properly. That includes the tires. Driving on well-maintained tires makes your car safer, helps it last longer, and saves you money, too. But believe it or not, fewer than half of all drivers check the condition of their tires on a regular basis.

You can put yourself on the road to proper tire care by taking a tire safety quiz at www.betiresmart.org.   Find out how tire smart you really are. National Tire Safety Week (June 2-8) is an excellent time to think about your tires, especially before summer vacation since warmer weather often means longer trips in the car, particularly in our own sunny and hot Florida. Proper tire maintenance can be a matter of life and death no matter where you are going. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration an estimated 660 motorists are killed each year in crashes directly caused by just having under-inflated tires.

 Proper tire care and safety is simple and easy. The Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA) recommends taking five minutes every month and before every long trip to check your tires, including the spare. Just remember to “Be Tire Smart - Play Your PART: Pressure, Alignment, Rotation, and Tread.”

 Motorcycle Safety - Share the Road:   May was Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month in Florida. The month-long focus is a good reminder for all road users that we all have a role to play in motorcycle safety.  If you are a motorcycle rider, the following protective gear could save your life:

 • Helmet (mandatory for riders age 20 or younger and for riders not covered by an insurance policy providing for at least $10,000 in medical benefits for injuries incurred as a result of a crash while operating or riding on a motorcycle)

• Eye protection (a windscreen on a motorcycle does not qualify as eye protection)

• Foot pegs for passengers

• Proper footwear (protects feet and ankles by giving you a good grip on road surfaces)

• Gloves (keep hands comfortable and protected)

• Jacket and pants (provides protection against sunburn, windburn, dehydration and abrasions)

Click here to find out the requirements to obtain a motorcycle endorsement.

Move Over Law:   When you see a patrol car or an ambulance or any other emergency vehicle on the side of the road or interstate, you must move over into the next lane if possible. If not, you must slow down. Here's a summary of the Move Over Law:

·         On a two-lane roadway, you are required to slow down to a speed that is 20 mph less than the posted speed limit.

·         If the speed limit is 20 mph or less, you must slow down to 5 mph.

·         If you are driving on an interstate or a roadway with multiple lanes of travel in the same direction, and you approach an emergency or law enforcement vehicle parked along the roadway, you must vacate the lane closest to that vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so.

Violating the Move Over Law can result in a fine and three points on your driver license. Click here for more information on Florida’s Move Over law. 

 Emergency Contact Information: More than seven million Floridians have registered their Emergency Contact Information with the Department. DHSMV is proud of the success of the ECI Program and encourages Floridians to give their loved ones the peace of mind that comes with registering their information, especially during the hurricane season. The Emergency Contact Information program allows licensed drivers and identification card holders to submit two contacts to notify in the event of an emergency, such as a vehicle crash. The information can then be accessed, only in the case of an emergency, by law enforcement officers.  To record your information, please visit www.flhsmv.gov/eci.

 For Teen Drivers and Parents: The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles has a parents section on its teen driving website www.flhsmv.gov/teens. The website provides parents with useful information to help them teach their teens to become safe drivers. Florida’s graduated driver licensing program allows teens to obtain a learner’s permit at age 15, which restricts them to driving only under certain conditions with a licensed adult. Other restrictions apply to teens with an operator’s license until he or she turns 18.

 

To ensure that both parents and teens have a complete understanding of the law, an explanation of each phase of the graduated licensing program and the related restrictions can be found on the website. Certain behaviors are associated with the cause of the high fatality rate of teen drivers including, inexperience and immaturity, combined with speed, alcohol consumption, not wearing seatbelts, distractions, drowsiness, and

driving when visibility is limited. The website includes a driving guide and a driving log to track the 50 hours of practice that teens must record to obtain their intermediate operator’s license.

 Is Your Mobile Home Prepared for Hurricane Season?: If you own a mobile home, we recommend you have a mobile home installer who is licensed by the Manufactured Housing Section of the Division of Motorist Services conduct a safety inspection of your home's tie-down system and make any necessary corrections that will afford you maximum protection. Here are some safety tips:

·         Check for loose straps.

·         Make sure straps are properly aligned and not on an angle.

·         Check to be sure the proper numbers of tie-downs have been installed properly.

·         Verify that ground anchors and stabilizer plates have been installed properly.

·         Be sure support piers are in contact with the frame.

·         Replace straps or ground anchors that show signs of corrosion or damage.

For additional protection, you may want to consider installing a longitudinal tie-down system located at the front and rear of your home.  For detailed information about mobile home installation, contact the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, Manufactured Housing Section of the Division of Motorist Services at (850)617-3004.

 Documentation Requirements in Florida:  We urge our customers to visit www.GatherGoGet.com, a website dedicated to assist Floridians and visitors with driver license and identification card requirements. Floridians renewing or obtaining a new license or ID are required to show proof of: 1) identification, 2) Social Security number and 3) residential address (two items).  The website and its tools are also available in Spanish at www.ReunaVengaObtenga.com and in Creole at www.RasanbleAlePran.com. The Department is issuing driver licenses and identification cards that meet Real ID federal standards.

 An Appointment Makes It Fast: All customers who must visit one of our offices to renew, replace, or file a change of address to their driver license or identification card, are urged to secure an appointment prior to their visit.  Connect via Internet at https://services.flhsmv.gov/Oasis/ for an appointment to reduce the length of the visit. Driver license offices are open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Please check our website at www.flhsmv.gov/offices/ for the most up-to-date information on office locations and schedules.

Fees for Driver Licenses and Identification Card

Class E (original and renewal)            $48     

Commercial Driver License (original and renewal)  $75       

ID Card (original and renewal)            $25     

Replacement License or ID                $25

Endorsements                                     $  7

Driver License Services at Tax Collector Office Service Fees    $ 6.25

Office hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday (except official holidays)

The Department uses a combination of vehicle information to determine registration fees. This includes registration use, license plate type and class code. The class code is determined by the vehicle weight, body type, vehicle type and registration use. To see a sample, click here.

 Buckle Up Every Time, Everyone!