The event was especially poignant after a New Year’s Day multi-vehicle crash resulted in the tragic loss of life of an FDOT Road Ranger and injured two FHP Troopers. FHP representatives called on the local media to raise awareness and urged the public to move over a lane or slow down when approaching an active scene or service vehicle to avoid another crash or fatality.

The event was attended by local agencies such as fire rescue and towing companies. Road Ranger and Incident Response Vehicle Operators also attended and were part of the backdrop to ensure all partners were represented to the public. Agency representatives made formal statements and the injured FHP troopers provided testimonies about their experience.

Florida’s Move Over Law requires drivers to vacate the lane closest to a stopped law enforcement, emergency, sanitation, utility service vehicles; tow trucks or wreckers; maintenance or construction vehicles with displaying warning lights; and any disabled vehicle on the side of the road. If the driver is unable to move over, the driver is required to slow to a speed that is 20 miles per hour less than the posted speed limit when the posted speed limit is 25 miles per hour or greater; or travel at five miles per hour when the posted speed limit is 20 miles per hour or less.

For more information about the law, please click here.

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Local media coverage will highlight first responders from local agencies including FHP Troop E, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue and FDOT Road Rangers. Guest speakers from their respective agencies plan to educate the public about the importance of practicing safe driving and adhering to Florida’s Move Over Law. The Move Over Law requires motorists to move over a lane, when it is safe to do so, for stopped law enforcement, emergency, sanitation, utility service vehicles, tow trucks, wreckers, maintenance, or construction vehicles. If unable to move over, motorists are required to slow to a speed 20 miles per hour less than the posted speed limit.

The media event will help remind the community how everyone plays a critical role in keeping Incident Responders safe on the roadway. It will also emphasize the recent changes made to the Move Over Law effective January 1, 2024 to include any disabled vehicle displaying hazard lights, using emergency flares, posting emergency signage, or with one or more persons visibly present.

The “Move Over” campaign will partner with local agencies and disperse campaign messaging through various public outreach efforts throughout South Florida. The goal is to empower the public with knowledge and resources that can save lives. The press conference will kick off the campaign to help encourage proactive participation from the community.

Please visit the Move Over campaign website for more information.

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The media event was held in conjunction with transportation partners such as the
Florida Highway Patrol (FHP), Bike305, and others. It highlighted the collaborative
approach the agencies take to provide drivers with the resources needed to arrive
safely at their destinations. FDOT District Six Secretary, Stacy Miller, urged drivers to
wear their seatbelts, stay sober, and avoid distractions behind the wheel. She reminded
drivers to plan ahead by using the FL511 Advanced Traveler Information Service and
call *347 if their vehicle becomes stranded on the road. FHP Troop E Major, Roger
Reyes, focused on security measures by reminding drivers to lock their vehicle doors
and remain vigilant when traveling. The event was hosted at the SunGuide
Transportation Management Center to give media representatives a first-hand look at
traffic operations services provided to the public 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. The
event was followed by a vehicle demonstration of the District’s Road Ranger and
Incident Response Vehicle trucks that are available for roadway clearance and motorist
assistance.

The press conference was covered by all the major print and broadcast media stations
in southeast Florida. The story was transmitted in English, Spanish, and Creole. The
event allowed FDOT and its partners to engage with the media and give this important
information to the community. Educational events are vital to FDOT’s mission of
providing a safe transportation system that ensures the mobility of people and goods in
our state. The FDOT District Six Office is committed to hosting these events throughout
the year.

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The first tour was a joint effort with the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP). FHP showcased their Statewide Law Enforcement Radio System (SLERS) and communication technology used in their operations. This is also the same system SunGuide Transportation Management Center (TMC) Operators use to communicate with incident management resources. Guests visited the SunGuide TMC to learn about FDOT’s TSM&O Program and the partnership with FHP. Representatives from FHP Dispatch and TMC Operations highlighted the importance of reliable communications on daily activities. The second tour was for the South Florida Section of the Florida Puerto Rico District of the Institute of Transportation Engineers (FLPRite). The FLPRite is a professional group that hosts industry conferences, facilitates networking opportunities, and provides professional development to promote the growth of the transportation industry in Florida and Puerto Rico. The TSM&O Office was asked to present about its latest projects and initiatives including the expansion of its arterial management division, connected vehicle projects, and managed lanes operations. The third tour of the month was for new staff members of the Miami-Dade Transportation Planning Organization (TPO). The goal was to introduce them to FDOT staff and provide an overview of the program and a walk-through of the control room.

The District Six TSM&O Office hosts tours for all members of the public. They allow FDOT to showcase the program and the transportation services we provide. The District has more tours planned that will run through the end of the year. For more information or to request a tour, please click here.

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FDOT partnered with the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) Troop E, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue, Road Rangers, and other first responders for the event which garnered full coverage by the local media. District Six focused this event to shed light on recent traffic violations that jeopardized Road Ranger safety earlier in the year. It is important to remind the public about the Move Over Law as back-to-school traffic begins and more motorists are on the road. The Department urged the public to follow the law and announced the recent amendment. FDOT was followed by representatives from FHP, the Community Traffic Safety Team, and the Road Ranger Service Patrol Unit. They reiterated the importance of the law, spoke about their collective actions and experiences, and reminded the public that everyone wants to come home safe.

The event was covered by a total of five English and Spanish media channels who broadcasted the story on their television and web platforms. The press conference was proceeded by a law enforcement detail that was comprised of nine local police agencies. The four-hour operation yielded a total of 7 arrests, 145 citations, 12 written warnings, and distributed 107 traffic safety educational materials.  The press conference was one of the most successful to date in terms of education and enforcement goals. FDOT and its partners remain committed to raising awareness about all traffic laws to improve roadway safety in our region. For a full recap of the event including videos and photos, please visit the FDOT District Six Safety Resources site, here.

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The area was completed to support incident management operations on I-95 and 95 Express. It is strategically located near a major entrance ramp to improve incident management response and clearance times. The staging area safely accommodates two Road Ranger pick-up trucks and one Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) trooper who assist with 95 Express incidents during the evening peak. A Road Ranger flat-bed truck is also positioned at this staging site that supports construction on I-395.

Providing a safe, well-lit, and accessible staging area makes incident management and transportation operations along I-95 safer and more efficient for drivers and first responders. This staging area is a critical component of the District’s incident management program that will have an immediate positive effect on operations along I-95 and 95 Express.

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The media event was held to promote the “Drive Safe” and “Move Over Law” Awareness Campaigns, which kicked off in January. FHP troopers stood alongside Road Rangers, Fire Rescue and other municipal law enforcement personnel to highlight the variety of responders that assist drivers daily. Representatives from each agency spoke about their respective incident management roles as well as the importance of working with the public to ensure everyone gets home safe.

FDOT handed out educational materials and posted three public service announcement videos on social media. Following the media event, troopers held an enforcement detail along sections of State Road 826, State Road 836 and Florida’s Turnpike to cite drivers in violation of the law. This detail yielded 164 traffic citations and distributed 691 traffic safety educational materials.  .

The Move Over law states that drivers must move over a lane or slow their speed to 20 mph below the posted speed limit when passing emergency or service vehicle on the side of the road. Drivers who violate the law can be issued a ticket and receive three points on their license.

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The press event will feature a fleet of vehicles and their drivers representing the various type of incident management and law enforcement. Additionally, the Florida Highway Patrol will conduct an enforcement detail where the press can observe FHP troopers citing drivers for unsafe behavior.

Campaigns like Move Over and Drive Safe educate drivers on the importance of safe driving practices while out on the road. Specifically, FDOT District Six’s Drive Safe campaign raises awareness about safe driving practices on key corridors in Miami-Dade County in order to reduce instances of aggressive driving, like speeding and following too closely. The Move Over campaign educates drivers on the Move Over Law and on the role they play in keeping Incident Responders safe on the roadway.

District Six will also share the message of both Move Over and Drive Safe campaigns through public outreach efforts and coordination with various local partners throughout Miami-Dade and Monroe counties.

Florida’s Move Over Law requires drivers on a multi-lane interstate highway to vacate the lane closest to an emergency or law enforcement vehicle parked along the roadway if it is safe to do so. If the driver is unable to move over, the driver is required to slow to a speed that is 20 miles per hour less than the posted speed limit.

Please visit the Move Over and Drive Safe campaign websites for more information about these important public outreach campaigns.

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The complex features a 1.4-mile driving track that will allow officers to enhance their personal driving skills and experience real-world emergency operations scenarios in a safe, controlled environment and under the guidance of qualified instructors. The facility will offer advanced training to include traffic incident management, high speed driving and comprehensive vehicle operations to improve the safety of officers and the motoring public alike.

FHP plans to expand the complex in the future to institute emerging best practices based on intelligence led training and national trends that affect law enforcement officers, first responders and the public. This project encompasses approximately 100 acres of land on the southeast portion of the safety institute’s headquarters. For additional information about this effort, please click here.

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The press conference was held to promote Move Over Awareness Month in Florida, which took place through the month of January. FHP troopers stood alongside District Six Road Rangers, tow truck drivers, and other law enforcement officials during the media event to highlight the variety of service workers who daily assist drivers on South Florida roadways.

The Move Over law states that drivers must move over a lane or slow their speed to 20 mph below the posted speed limit when passing an emergency or service vehicle on the side of the road. Drivers who violate the law can be issued a ticket and receive three points on their license.

As part of the media event, law enforcement officers held an enforcement detail, pulling over drivers in violation of this law. Approximately 240 citations were handed out as a result of the enforcement.

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The State Emergency Operations Center (EOC) requested Road Ranger support initially to assist returning residents with flat tires due to the amount of debris on the roadway. They also helped residents that were stranded due to fallen trees or needed minor vehicle repairs so they could safely navigate along US-1. The Road Rangers traveled daily to reinforce Monroe County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) and Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) along US-1 and Card Sound Road. The team worked tirelessly and did whatever was asked to help normalize traffic operations during this critical time.

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District Six Secretary Jim Wolfe reported the progress made along the roadway at a media briefing held at the SunGuide Transportation Management Center on Tuesday, August 22. He emphasized that future and ongoing improvements, such as the construction of Emergency Stopping Sites (ESS) along 95 Express, would further improve conditions along the roadway making the facility safer for all users.

District Six partnered with the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) and launched the safety initiative with a joint press conference in summer 2016. The initiative consisted of a targeted approach for education, enforcement and engineering. In addition to replacing express lane markers (ELM) separating the express lanes from the non-tolled general use lanes and reducing the space between ELMs along the roadway, District Six and FHP held a public safety campaign to increase driver awareness about the consequences of illegal lane changing. FHP increased their presence by adding more troopers along the facility.

As a result of the safety initiative, the facility saw a decrease in illegal lane changing by 86 percent and a 33 percent decrease in driver crashes. ELM replacements also has been reduced by 92 percent.

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A total of nine Road Ranger Service Patrols were dispatched to help with evacuation efforts in the days before the storm. They assisted stranded motorists and relocated vehicles to help traffic flow out of the area in a safe and efficient manner. The group stepped up again when called to assist with post-hurricane recovery efforts. They traveled daily to reinforce Monroe County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) and Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) along US-1 and Card Sound Road.

The State Emergency Operations Center (EOC) requested Road Ranger assistance after the storm to help with fixing flat tires. Road Rangers assisted residents who returned to their homes to salvage belongings by fixing flat tires caused by debris on the roadway. The residents’ vehicles were full of their belongings, making it difficult for them to change their tires themselves. Rangers were ready and able to help get the motorists back on the road safely. They worked tirelessly and did whatever was asked to help normalize traffic operations in this hard-hit area.

District Six is proud to have these Road Rangers serving on our team. They came together to selflessly help those in need and we are happy to recognize them this month.

From left to right: Braudilio Alba-Bravo; Jesse Jimenez; Angel Moreno; Francisco Ruiz

From left to right: Jose Vilar; William Lopez; Ronny Oramas; Leonardo Fiallo; Alexis Ramos

Thank you all for your hard work and dedication!

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The measures were designed to curtail lane diving on the express lanes and increase safety for law enforcement officers and motorists.

Part of these measures include installing more durable plastic poles used to divide the express lanes from the non-tolled general purpose lanes. Currently, the plastic poles are ten feet apart; the more durable poles will be placed five feet apart. The goal is to prevent lane diving where motorists illegally run over the plastic poles between the lanes and endanger themselves and other drivers.

Another key element of the enhanced safety features will be new emergency/enforcement pull-off areas along the corridor. These wider shoulders, measuring at least 13 feet, will give both law enforcement and motorists more room to pull off the express lanes for emergency stops or enforcement activities.

Installation of the new plastic poles will begin shortly. The emergency/enforcement pull-off area requires approval of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). After this approval is obtained, construction of the first pull-off area is scheduled to start in 2017.

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The children of employees from Florida Highway Patrol Troop “E” (FHP), Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and FDOT got to participate in the wide-ranging activities planned that day. The morning activities included demonstrations from FHP’s rollover simulator and K-9 unit. Later, FDOT showcased the SunGuide Transportation Management Center where they learned about the different services it provides. There, they got the opportunity to tour the TMC’s control room and saw two vehicle demonstrations for the Road Ranger and Incident Response Vehicles.

In the end, the event was well-received by all. It gave the agencies an opportunity to show the children the important role their parents play in the community. And the children were able to learn about it in a fun and interactive way. FDOT will be hosting the tour again next year and the SunGuide TMC is on board to participate.

If you are interested in taking a tour of the SunGuide TMC, click here.

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