FDOT Promotes Older Driver Safety Awareness Week

Tallahassee, FL – The ability to safely get to and from the places we need and want to go with or without a car is the objective of the Florida Department of Transportation’s (FDOT) Safe Mobility for Life Coalition. To that end, this week is known nationally as “Older Driver Safety Awareness Week .” Gail Holley, FDOT’s Safe Mobility for Life Coalition manager said that aging impacts everyone’s ability to be safe behind the wheel. “We really try to encourage drivers of all ages to be proactive about their safe driving skills and focus also on how you can maintain mobility and independence by preparing for the transportation future so you can continue to get around  whether you’re driving or not.” For the older driver, Holley said that sometimes family members have to get involved in the decision-making process as to when that driver should no longer be driving.  “It’s really important that family members can encourage trips to the doctors to make sure that vision and hearing are still the same. It’s also important that they prepare and understand how to have a conversation and that they think about where their loved one is trying to get to and from and maybe help them find alternatives.” Holley said the website FindARideFlorida.com  has a statewide database. “You can actually enter your location and where your destination is and get a list of all of the different types of options that are available. It goes beyond just medical. It allows you to get to other places that you might want to go.” For more information about the Safe Mobility for Life Coalition, visit SafeMobilityFL.com. You can find more information at fdot.gov about Older Driver Safety Awareness Week, details on how to build a personalized transportation plan, and registration information on the upcoming Working Together Webinar happening Wednesday, December 8 at 10 a.m.