Florida Highway Patrol Aims To Curb I-95 Fatalities, Boost Safety

TALLAHASSEE, FL — Florida Highway Patrol officers will be focused on drivers who are racing, distracted or impaired, or speeding on one of the nation's busiest highways.

The I-95 Drive to Save Lives safety and enforcement initiative runs through April 3, with law enforcement agencies in each state conducting enforcement details on I-95.

The Florida Highway Patrol is collaborating with the state police, highway patrols, and local law enforcement jurisdictions of every state on the Eastern Seaboard to keep the major interstate corridor safe and fatality-free.

“The Florida Highway Patrol, along with the many law enforcement partners along the I-95 corridor, is committed to traffic safety,” said Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Executive Director Dave Kerner in a news release. “The I-95 Drive to Save Lives initiative will help reduce traffic crashes and save lives along one of our busiest interstate roadways.”

The goal is to have a prominent law enforcement presence across roughly 1,920 miles of the Interstate 95 corridor to reduce traffic deaths and injuries.

The Florida Highway Patrol will emphasize changing high-risk behaviors of driver, such as racing, distracted driving, impaired driving, speeding, commercial vehicle safety, and buckling up.

In conjunction with Distracted Driving Awareness Month, FHP reminds drivers to focus on the road. More than 50,000 crashes occurred by distracted drivers in Florida in 2022, resulting in 268 fatalities and 2,574 serious bodily injuries.

Drivers can dial *FHP (*347) from a cell phone to contact the highway patrol to report an aggressive or impaired driver or to request roadside assistance.

AAA has some tips to help drivers focus on the road:

• Pull away from travel lanes and park in a safe location if you need to send a text message; never stop on the side of the highway.
• Designate a passenger to respond to any messages while you are behind the wheel.
• When you come upon a stopped or parked vehicle displaying warning signals, move over if it is safe to do so or slow down when passing.
• Do not use your phone to scroll or engage in social media while driving.
• If you need to eat or drink while on a trip, pull over in a safe area and eat before getting back on the road.
• If you're tempted to use your phone while driving, place the phone in the trunk, glove box or back seat.
• Ask friends or family members not to use their phones while driving.