ORLANDO, Fla. – The Florida Department of Transportation and Florida Highway Patrol are urging people to drive safely and be prepared for a busy Fourth of July holiday.
According to AAA, more than 3.9 million Floridians are expected to take a road trip during the nine-day travel period from June 29 to July 7.
AAA said compared to last year, 183,000 more drivers will be on Florida roads and that will set a record for the second consecutive year.
As traffic builds across Central Florida, workers keep an eye on the busiest roads from the FDOT Regional Transportation Management Center in Sanford.
“We have traffic operators who are monitoring the roadways and coordinating a quick response to incidents,” Public Information Director Cindi Lane said. “You’re going to need an extra dose of patience this weekend.”
FHP said there are several things to keep in mind for anyone planning a trip for the holiday.
“The big thing here is to don’t drive impaired, don’t drive distracted, wear your seatbelt and be patient,” Lt. Tara Crescenzi said.
Troopers said one in seven crashes is caused by distracted driving and that’s one reason why they’ll be on the lookout for people texting while behind the wheel.
“We are watching and we are looking to see if you have that handheld device in your hand and you are texting, and if so we are going to stop you,” Crescenzi said.
FDOT provides roadside assistance to stranded drivers through its fleet of Road Rangers. The service provides free, limited roadside assistance, including tire changing or helping with minor mechanical repairs.
Drivers on I-4, I-75, I-95 and Central Florida’s toll roads can request a Road Ranger’s service by dialing *FHP (*347).
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