Drive Friendly in Florida

photo by Christiaan Arthur Hemerik.

By: Sharon Aron Baron

Have you ever been to Texas? If so, you’ve probably seen those “Drive Friendly” signs along the highways. I grew up thinking this was the state motto as it was so deeply ingrained in our psyche.

Our state desperately needs these types of reminders on our roads.  Maybe everyone should be required to take a refresher course in driver’s education.  Back in Texas, my driver’s ed teacher, who had a large foreboding presence, scared us “straight” when it came to driving.  His name was Coach Allen, and no one knew if he even had a first name. Like some teachers that taught electives, he was the football coach and coaches usually taught classes such as these when they weren’t…coaching.  Like all coaches, he was a tyrant and taught drivers ed with the passion he took to the field.

Coach Allen was tough and he made sure that everyone knew the rules of the road. He took driving very seriously and he made sure that he wasn’t going to pass just anyone in his class. “I’m not going to lose my life to some fool kid who doesn’t know how to drive,” he’d say. He taught us that we had to obey all the traffic laws and to respect the road and other drivers. I had the misfortune of having my drivers ed class first period, which was still during the time my body thought it should still be sleeping. I found out too quickly that I couldn’t nod off in his class as he would scream, “Whatcha doing sleeping in my class? You’re a fool if you think you’re going to sleep in my class!” I learned quickly at the age of 15 to develop a taste for coffee.

I don’t know how it is now, but for the most part Texas drivers were very courteous drivers.  Did those signs make a difference? I don’t know.  But something desperately needs to be done about the awful drivers on the road here in Florida.  I think everyone needs a refresher course with Coach Allen because the drivers here are relentless with their tailgating, speeding, honking and the inability to use blinkers. It’s a free-for-all in Florida where there is no civility on the roads.  Luckily, Coach Allen never had to contend with the amount of drivers now using their cellphones.  I’m sure he would have have banned any of us from talking on the phone while driving as it creates such a distraction.

Photo by Tim Patterson.

Like Texas, Florida needs to put “Drive Friendly” reminders on signs along our streets and highways.  Besides our safety, our tourism dollars are at stake.  Our main arteries are I-75, I-95 and the Florida Turnpike and these major roads bring us hundreds of thousands of tourists every year that know all too well how rude Florida drivers are.

Our attitudes on the road just well may be a reflection of the people that live here.  Although Coach Allen passed away a few years ago, he always reminded us to “Keep your bad attitude off the road.”   Florida Department of Transportation should take Texas’s lead and create a “Drive Friendly in Florida” campaign for those that need this reminder too.