As we fire up the grills and decorate our golf carts to celebrate America’s 250th birthday this summer, the patriotic spirit is alive and well here in Florida’s Friendliest Hometown. With the Fourth of July festivities and summer road trips in full swing, it is a wonderful time for celebration with family, friends, and visiting grandchildren. However, amidst the fireworks and barbecues, we must not lose sight of our most important responsibility: keeping our roadways safe.
That is why we are strongly echoing the “Arrive Alive” summer safety campaign recently launched by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Whether you are driving your car down Buena Vista Boulevard or taking the golf cart to one of the town squares for nightly entertainment, safety is always in season. We all need to stay alert behind the wheel, follow traffic laws, and avoid reckless driving.
It might surprise you to learn that, statistically speaking, June and July are actually the safest months on Florida’s highways. Statewide crash data shows these two months represent the lowest proportion of fatal crashes throughout the year. But as state officials rightly point out, a lower risk does not mean there is no risk at all.
Even during these “safer” months, impaired and distracted driving remains a persistent, preventable threat to our community. Over the past few years, troopers have documented thousands of impaired driving crashes during June and July alone. Behind every single one of those statistics is a life, a family, and a terrible choice that could have been made differently.
Here in The Villages, where our roads are heavily shared by cars, golf carts, cyclists, and pedestrians, personal responsibility is paramount. We urge all motorists to plan ahead, put the phone down, buckle up, and absolutely never get behind the wheel if you are impaired. If you plan on having a few drinks while enjoying the summer festivities, designate a sober driver.
The freedoms we enjoy in this great nation are strengthened by mutual respect and consideration for our neighbors. Let’s all do our part to celebrate 250 years of American independence the right way. Make smart choices, look out for one another, and ensure that every journey this summer ends exactly where it is supposed to: safely at home.