The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) established the Safe Mobility for Life Program in their State Traffic Engineering and Operations Office in 2004 to address the needs of aging Floridians, as changes to health, vision and reflexes can affect driving as early as age 55.
In 2009, the Program partnered with the Pepper Institute on Aging and Public Policy at FSU to form a statewide coalition to address the transportation needs of Florida's aging population.
Working together alongside the agencies/organizations shown below, Safe Mobility for Life's goal is to eliminate fatalities and serious injuries for Florida's aging population while maintaining their safe mobility and connection to the community.
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Safe Mobility for Life implements a proactive, research-based, data-driven approach to develop educational materials and resources to support Florida's older adults in maintaining their safe mobility and independence, even beyond the driver's seat.
Our message is You Hold the Keys to Your Transportation Future and we center our education and outreach around three simple empowering actions:
- Understand how aging impacts driving
- Be Proactive about safe driving skills
- Plan for a safe transition from driving
Florida's Safe Mobility for Life Strategic Action Plan
To reach our goal, the coalition implements Florida's Safe Mobility for Life Strategic Action Plan. This is a comprehensive, data-driven and evaluation based plan that aligns with Florida's Strategic Highway Safety Plan, the Florida Transportation Plan, and State Plan on Aging. Our strategic action plan supports each of the six focus areas, shown below, by developing and distributing educational materials and resources that help achieve their goals and objectives.
Focus Areas
Program Management and Evaluation
Goal: Lead, implement, and evaluate Safe Mobility for Life Coalition resources and activities using a proactive data-driven approach.
Team Leader: Gail M. Holley, FDOT State Traffic Engineering and Operations Office
Community Outreach and Education
Goal: Directly engage with Floridians to raise awareness of the materials and resources developed by the Coalition to support its goal and objectives.
Team Leaders: Gail M. Holley, FDOT State Traffic Engineering and Operations Office and Lisa Bretz, Advantage Aging Solutions
Licensing and Enforcement
Goal: Educate and promote resources for law enforcement and licensing personnel.
Team Leaders: Ray Graves and Conrad McCray, Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
Livable Communities
Goal: Create safer and more connected communities through the use of context-based design and by providing access to features and services that meet the transportation needs of an aging population.
Team Leaders: Gail M. Holley, FDOT State Traffic Engineering and Operations Office and Margie Tamblyn, Palm Beach Metropolitan Planning Organization
Mobility Independence
Goal: Educate Floridians on how to access and use transportation options to keep them safe, active, and independent in their communities.
Team Leaders: Libertad Acosta-Anderson and Jamie Ledgerwood, FDOT District 5
Prevention and Assessment
Goal: Promote driver fitness, recognition of at-risk drivers, and safe mobility for older adults through prevention and intervention resources.
Team Leader: Megan Case, Pepper Institute on Aging and Public Policy at Florida State University
For more information on the Safe Mobility for Life Coalition, please contact Gail M. Holley, FDOT's Safe Mobility for Life Program Manager.