Aging can impact everyone’s ability to be safe behind the wheel, but there’s no “one size fits all” timeline for when or how aging may impact our safe driving skills.

To help plan take control of your transportation future as an aging road user, it is important to learn and implement the 3 Keys to Achieve Safe Mobility for Life:

• Understand the impact age-related changes can have on your safe driving skills.
• Be Proactive by taking a driver safety course, participating in a CarFit event, and learning about new road features, devices, or traffic safety laws.
• Plan for a safe transition by building a personalized transportation plan that incorporates multiple transportation options!

To learn more about the 3 keys and how to develop your own transportation plan, read Florida’s Guide to Safe Mobility for Life.

Older adults are the most vulnerable pedestrians. Nationally, adults over 65 make up 10% of walking trips, yet account for 19% of pedestrian fatalities.

Walking is not just for exercise, it can also be a simple, low-cost form of transportation. Learn more about

• The benefits of incorporating walking into your daily routine
• Safe walking tips
• Pedestrian signs, signals, and markings
• Florida pedestrian laws

Visit the Resource Center to download or order the Walking: How to Use Transportation Option in Florida booklet to learn more.

Even at slow speeds, people walking in parking lots are at risk for injury because drivers may be focusing on finding a parking space and not necessarily on driving.

Remember to always be alert in parking lots, watch for vehicles turning in and backing out, and use crosswalks when available.

Alert Today Florida is the campaign brand of FDOT's pedestrian and bicycle safety program. The goal of this program is to eliminate traffic crashes that result in serious or fatal injuries to pedestrians and bicyclists. Please visit AlertTodayFlorida.com for valuable resources such as: 

• High Visibility Enforcement Efforts
• Complete Streets
• Bicycle and Pedestrian Signs, Signals, and Pavement Markings
• Florida Traffic Laws
• And much more!

You can order pedestrian and bicycle safety materials directly from Florida’s Pedestrian and Bicycling Safety Resource Center.

Bicycling is not only a great form of exercise it is also good transportation options for people of all ages. The goal of our Bicycling: How to Use Transportation Options in Florida booklet is to give you the information you need to be a safer cyclist while helping you learn how to use a bicycle as a transportation option around your community. In this booklet you will learn:

• Bicycle selection and helmet fitting
• Safe riding tips
• Parts of the bicycle and maintenance
• Florida bicycle laws

Visit the Resource Center to download or order your Walking: How to Use Transportation Option in Florida booklet.

Florida's warm climate permits year-round motorcycling, which places Florida's motorcyclists more at risk than those in many other states.

Ride Smart Florida is a complete resource for motorcycle riders, trainers, sponsors, local governments, law enforcement agencies, and emergency services. Find out the three things every motorcyclist should do by downloading the tip card to the right, or order your copy from their website.

Motorist actions can impact the safety of motorcyclists greatly! A large portion of motorcycle crashes involve poor speed and spatial judgment of other drivers, and poor motorcyclist conspicuity. Read more about sharing the road on Ride Smart Florida's Motorist Responsibility page.

It is important for all motorcyclists to properly understand the safety practices for motorcycles. This includes attending a rider training course in order to learn how to safely operate his/her vehicle and to obtain the required license to operate a motorcycle in Florida. Motorcyclists should follow the rules of the road, be alert to other drivers, and wear protective gear. Drivers should allow a motorcycle a full lane width and signal your intentions, to avoid a motorcycle being in your blind spot. Drivers should also allow a longer following distance from a motorcycle than with other vehicles.

More motorcycle safety information can be found at these links:

• ABATE of Florida Inc. Motorcycle Safety Awareness Program (MSAP)
• FLHSMV Florida Rider Training Program (FRTP)
• NHTSA Motorcycle Safety, Skills, and Licensing
• The Seasoned Rider Curricula by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation focuses on older motorcyclists and safe riding.

Section 316.212 of the Florida Statutes states that golf carts can only be operated on city or county roads designated by the local government for their use based on specific criteria:

• Posted speed limit must be 30 MPH or less
• Cannot be used on sidewalks unless approved by the local government
• Speeds do not exceed 15 MPH
• Never allowed on bike paths
• Never permitted to cross state roads unless there is an officially designated golf cart crossing.
• Can only be used during daylight hours unless approved by the local government.
• Must be properly equipped with headlights and other required equipment

Your golf cart must also be properly prepared to safely operate on roads designated for golf cart use, by having:

• Properly operating brakes
• Warning devices on both the front and back made of red reflective material
• Rearview mirror
• Properly operating steering wheel
• Properly inflated tires with good tread

Learn more on how to safely operate your golf cart in Florida, by reading the Safe Mobility for Life Golf Carts: Tips on How to Use Transportation Options in Florida brochure. Visit the Resource Center to download or order the brochure.

Low speed vehicles are similar to golf carts but have top speeds that are greater than 20 miles per hour but do not exceed 25 miles per hour. Section 316.2122M of the Florida Statutes states that low speed vehicles may be operated on designated roadways with posted speed limits of 35 miles per hour or less. In addition, a driver’s license, title and registration, vehicle identification number, and insurance are required. Low speed vehicles must also be properly equipped with:

• Headlights
• Brake lights
• Turn signals
• Tail lamps and reflectors
• Parking brakes
• Rearview mirrors
• Windshields
• Safety belts

For a comparison of carts and low speed vehicle requirements, read the Safe Mobility for Life Golf Carts: Tips on How to Use Transportation Options in Florida brochure. Visit the Resource Center to download or order the brochure.

Ridesourcing is the term used when referring to on-demand mobility services like taxis or Transportation Network Companies (TNC). Companies which use a smartphone application to connect customers with drivers and automate reservations, payment, and feedback are called Transportation Network Companies (TNCs). You may be more familiar with other terms such as “Ridesharing” or “App Rides.” The most well-known companies are Uber and Lyft. These services are growing and filling a need where options may be scarce or for those that public transportation is not an option.

There are many unknowns about TNCs we are here to answer. For instance, did you know:

• Some TNCs allow you to schedule your trip in advance.
• The trip cost can vary due to a demand for rides in your area.
• There are services that will arrange a TNC ride for you over the phone.

There are also some things to take into consideration when using TNCs services. Before you ride, make sure you:

• Know the hours and locations the services operate.
• Check the driver photo and make and model of the vehicle.
• If you need assistance, check with the driver in advance via the app on whether they can meet your needs.

We designed a brochure to answer these questions and and more called “Transportation Network Companies: How to Use Transportation Option in Florida.” Visit the Resource Center to download or order the brochure.