Information of Interest to Florida Drivers. September 2013

 

Eight States Partnering For Traffic Safety: The Florida Highway Patrol is collaborating with seven other southern border states in an effort to keep the roadways safe and fatality-free over the Labor Day holiday weekend.  All eight states that line Interstate 10, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California, will be participating in an intensified enforcement effort called “10-8 on 10, One Road, One Mission.”  By all states working together, the entire 2,460 miles of I-10 will be covered under this enforcement action.   

During the four day holiday period, law enforcement agencies in each state will conduct special details on I-10.  The details will focus on stopping drunk and drugged drivers, aggressive drivers, speeders and drivers who fail to move over to the left hand lane when a law enforcement, emergency or tow vehicle is parked on the side of the road.  In addition, troopers will be checking for distracted driving, seat belt use, improper lane changes and commercial vehicle safety.  While these focus areas are something the Patrol does every day, it is the first time that the eight states have teamed up to ensure interstate travelers will see the same enforcement effort throughout their trip.     

Below are some tips to ensure travelers arrive safely at their destination:  

• Get plenty of rest before setting out on a long trip and allow plenty of time to reach your destination;
• Buckle up.  A seatbelt is your vehicle’s most important safety feature;
• Obey all speed limits;
• Drive sober and alert;
• Eliminate driver distractions such as texting, talking on the phone, adjusting the stereo, etc.  Anything that can take your eyes off the road, even a second, can lead to an accident.  
• Take steps before you leave to prepare your vehicle for the trip i.e. checking tire pressure/condition and fluid levels.  

• The driver does not attempt to avoid the crash.
• The driver is alone in the vehicle.

DHSMV Joins the “Put it Down” Campaign: The Department joined a campaign by FDOT’s District Six to inform drivers in South Florida of the risks of distracted driving. The “Put it Down” campaign, which targets drivers between 16 and 24, will run through October with a series of community outreach events throughout area.  Numerous educational institutions joined the campaign to help deliver the message not to be distracted while driving, particularly by using a cell phone to talk or to text messages.

According to the Pew Research Center, 40 percent of American teens say they have been in a car when the driver used a cell phone in a way that put people in danger. In addition, 11 percent of all drivers under the age of 20 involved in fatal crashes were reported as distracted at the time of the crash. Statistically, this age group has the largest population of distracted drivers.  For more information, please visit www.distraction.gov.

Information for Teen Drivers: The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles has a parents section on its teen driving website at 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 with a licensed adult under certain conditions. Other restrictions apply to teens with an operator’s license until they turn 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 a 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. To visit the website, please go to: www.flhsmv.gov/teens. 

Aging and Driving: The majority of older drivers are good drivers. But as we age, most of us will need to take steps to ensure that we can continue to drive safely. Changes in our visual, physical and mental abilities will affect each of us in different ways. That is why the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles and its partners created "Florida GrandDriver®."  

The goals of the Florida GrandDriver® program are to promote your continued driving safety, and enhance your ability to get around your community when and where you want. Visit www.flhsmv.gov/FloridaGrandDriver/ to learn more about driver refresher courses and other related subject. 

Emergency Contact Information: Millions of Floridians have registered their Emergency Contact Information with the Department. The Department 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 find designated contacts.  To record your information, please visit   www.flhsmv.gov/eci.

Florida Organ And Tissue Donor Program - Through the miracle of transplantation, many people are living healthy, productive lives. However, the need for donated organs and tissues continues to outpace the supply. Right now, there are thousands who would be helped if more of us became organ and tissue donors. Organ and tissue donations provide each of us with a special opportunity to help others. Donation of vital organs and tissues can save lives where no other hope is available. Heart, liver, lung and kidney transplants save lives every day. Additionally, bone, skin and cornea transplants often restore sight and save burn victims.  For more information, please visit:  http://www.flhsmv.gov/html/organ_donor.html. 

Documentation Requirements Available Online: DHSMV recommends our customers visit www.GatherGoGet.com, a website dedicated to assist Floridians with the new 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.

Get an Appointment:  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.

Credit Cards Accepted: Driver license offices throughout the state are accepting credit cards!  Cards accepted include American Express, Discover, MasterCard and Visa.  We also accept personal checks and cash.  We again strongly encourage all our customers to skip the trip to an office by visiting the DHSMV website at www.GoRenew.com, and utilize our on-line services to renew their driver licenses, identifications cards, vehicle tags and change their addresses, eligible.

 

For a complete listing of all motorist services fees, please click here.

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.

For a list of frequently asked questions and answers regarding Florida's fees, click here.                            

 

Buckle Up Every Time, Everyone