In response to increasing traffic fatalities over the past three years, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FDHSMV) has launched a new “Arrive Alive” campaign to raise greater awareness among drivers statewide.
According to FDHSMV officials, the state has one of the highest auto accident fatality rates in the country. Arrive Alive will be the first time that all the state’s public safety agencies and organizations are collaborating in such a manner, ensuring all have a unified message as they work toward a shared goal.
Although Florida’s fatality rates are higher than the national average, the United States in general has seen an increase in accident-related deaths in recent years. In fact, there was a 7.2 percent increase from 2014 to 2015, marking the largest single-year rise in about five decades. The numbers, which come from the Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, indicate that the first nine months of 2016 saw about an 8 percent increase compared to the same time period of the year prior.
Law enforcement to step up efforts to reduce car accidents
Arrive Alive will focus on increasing law enforcement presence, greater public education and improved engineering at sites where the highest rates of fatal and injury-causing accidents occur throughout the state. FDHSMV can identify these spots using Data Driven Approaches to Crime and Traffic Safety (DDACTS).
The campaign could be an effective start to improving safety on Florida’s roads and highways. However, Advocates also recommends implementing graduated licensing for young drivers, more restrictions on texting while driving, booster seat laws and better enforcement of seat belt laws.
To learn more about your legal options if you’ve been involved in a serious car accident, speak with an experienced Bradenton personal injury attorney at Goldman, Babboni, Fernandez, Murphy & Walsh.