The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) has deemed January as Move Over Month, to help educate all drivers in Florida about the importance of moving over or changing lanes when emergency or service vehicles are stopped on the side of the road. The Move Over Law became a law in 2002 and says vehicles must change lanes or move over as soon as they can do so safely when they see any law enforcement, emergency, or service vehicles with visible signals or signs while they are stopped on the road or side of the road. In 2014, the law became more inclusive when it added sanitation and utility vehicles (garbage trucks, tow trucks, and Road Rangers). To be in compliance with Florida's Move Over Law:

On multi-lane roads:

• If you are in the lane closest to a stopped emergency, sanitation, Road Ranger, or wrecker vehicle, move to another lane as soon as you are safely able to, always using your blinkers to show your intention to other drivers
• If you are not able to move over safely, you must slow down so that your speed is at least 20 mph slower than the posted speed limit
• Allow other drivers room who may also be attempting to change lanes

On two-lane roads:

• Slow down so that your speed is at least 20 mph slower than the posted speed limit
• If the speed limit is 20 mph or less, slow your speed to 5 mph

Public Input Requested on Proposed Connect 2045 Amendment

The River to Sea Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) is seeking public comment on a proposed amendment to Connect 2045, the TPO’s Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP), which will be presented during the regularly scheduled January meetings of the TPO Board and advisory committees (CAC & TCC).

The TPO is seeking to amend the Connect 2045 LRTP to reflect updated funding in fiscal year 2023 for the Pioneer Trail Interchange Project (FM# 436292-1).

Detailed materials are available for review here. Members of the public are encouraged to provide input regarding this proposed amendment to the Connect 2045 LRTP.    

Recommended action on this amendment will occur in January 2023 at the following meetings of the TPO advisory committees:

• Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) January 17, 2023 @ 1:15 p.m.
• Technical Coordinating Committee (TCC) January 17, 2023 @ 3:00 p.m.

The River to Sea TPO Board is expected to review and take action on the proposed amendment at their regularly scheduled meeting on Wednesday, January 25, 2023, beginning at 9:00 a.m.

All committee and board meetings are open to the public and public input is welcomed. If you are unable to attend these meetings, comments may be provided in advance in writing or by contacting the TPO staff. The above meetings will take place in the conference room at the River to Sea TPO office located at:

2570 W. International Speedway Blvd., Suite 100

Daytona Beach, FL 32114

For more information or to provide public comment, please contact Pamela Blankenship at 386-226-0422 ext. 20416 or via email at PBlankenship@r2ctpo.org.

Additional information is available here.

Driver Safety Education Month

The Safe Mobility for Life Coalition and the River to Sea TPO are promoting Driver Safety in January. An informative website resource for aging road users and their loved ones is the Safe Mobility for Life Coalition. The Safe Mobility for Life Coalition’s mission is to implement a strategic plan to increase the safety, access, and mobility for aging road users and eliminate fatalities and reduce serious injuries. Their website can be found by visiting: Safe Mobility for Life

For younger drivers, the National Transportation Safety Board has helpful resources on their website at NTSB Teen and Young Driver Safety. Among the information you can find are the riskiest behaviors teens engage in while driving; speeding, distracted and drowsy driving and not wearing a seat belt.

Most at-risk for crashes are:

• Male drivers aged 16-19
• Teens driving with teens or young adult passengers
• Newly licensed teens

One way Florida helps to prevent crashes is through its graduated driver licensing (GDL) system which allows teens to gain experience behind the wheel before receiving full driver's license privileges. More information on Florida's GDL system is available at FLHSMV Teen GDL System