Let FL511 guide you to holiday events
December is the merriest time of year for many Florida motorists. Excitement builds the first half of the month with holiday shopping, parties, purchasing and receiving gifts and cards, decorating, socializing and planning holiday gatherings. Then, the observances start: Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa and New Year’s Eve. For many, December is a very happy and meaningful time of the year. But the holidays can lead to crowded roads.
FDOT encourages motorists and visitors to use its FL511.com website and mobile app for holiday travel on Florida roads. FL511 is the state’s official source for traffic information to help motorists plan their route ahead of time, increasing safety and reducing stress. To plan a trip, motorists can log onto the FL511 website or download the FL511 Mobile App to see current congestion, construction, incidents, and other issues along Florida roadways that can affect driving. The FL511 App, website, and Twitter feeds provide information on Florida’s interstates, toll roads and other major metropolitan roadways, allowing drivers to avoid unnecessary delays, as well as receive updates on accidents, congestion, construction and more. Travelers can follow FL511 on 13 Twitter handles, on Facebook @FL511, and Instagram @Florida_511.
Motorists can use the system for driving locally (in major metropolitan areas) or for out-of-town trips. Before returning, be sure to check the website or mobile app for real-time traffic information. FL511 currently provides information on congestion events, crashes, construction, and maintenance activities on all interstates, toll roads, and several major metropolitan roadways in Florida. To learn more about these and other features, click here.
FL511 can help Florida’s older driver population
Florida has the largest percentage of residents who are age 65 or older in the United States. There are an estimated 4.3 million people 65 or older, which comprise 19 percent of the state’s population.
The safety of older drivers is important to all of us, regardless of our age now. In fact, December 2 to 6, 2019 has been designated Older Driver Safety Awareness Week by the American Occupational Therapy Association to raise awareness about the importance of mobility and transportation for seniors.
There are a number of steps seniors can take to remain safe behind the wheel. FL511 has some features to help. It may be useful for senior drivers to plan their route ahead of time and be aware of factors such as severe weather, congestion and other incidents before they get on the road. FL511 can provide this information ahead of time. To learn more about these and other benefits of the FL511 website and mobile app, please click here.
Use FL511 for directions to a college football bowl game
Florida is blessed with great weather in December – probably the best in the nation at this time – so it is no surprise there are four college football bowl games scheduled for December.
The Capital One Orange Bowl in Miami Gardens on December 30 is a semi-final for the college football playoff game.
There are three other bowl games as well, though not in the playoffs. These are the Boca Raton Bowl on December 21, the Bad Boy Mower Gasparilla Bowl in Tampa on December 23, and the Camping World Bowl in Orlando on December 28.
All these games are sure to be exciting and well-attended by thousands of cheering fans. For those attending, FL511 can help. The website and mobile app can provide turn-by-turn directions to the stadium, with up to three routes with times. The system also provides camera snapshot images of major roads leading to stadiums, current congestion and other helpful traffic information. The mobile app can make your drive to and from the stadium safer and less stressful.
For more information, visit fl511.com.
Use FL511 to avoid congestion
Congestion! Florida has a lot of it in December, with many major metropolitan areas and millions of drivers and commuters visiting the sunshine state.
But, FL511 has a simple tool to help motorists either avoid congestion or at least know when and where to expect it. On the home page of the FL511 website, there are easy-to-understand congestion maps. The maps feature green, yellow and red lines for, of course, good to go, caution and heavy congestion, respectively.
Know before you go with FL511! To learn about more popular features, download the FL511 Mobile App at the Apple App Store or Google Play, or visit the website at fl511.com.
Florida Events in December
Travel smart and use FL511 to these and other holiday events in Florida this month.
52th Annual Snowball Derby (Pensacola)
December 4-8, 2019
The 52nd Annual Snowball Derby features the best late model racers in North America. Current NASCAR stars, legends, and many more of the greatest racers in short track racing history have left their mark in Snowball lore by winning the prestigious event. The race is December 8.
Dickens on Centre (Amelia Island)
December 13-15, 2019
Travel back in time during the fifth annual Dickens on Centre festival in historic downtown Fernandina Beach. Free to the public, this Victorian-inspired holiday festival is as fun as the dickens for the entire family. Costumed characters, strolling carolers, roasting chestnuts, readings of Dickins’ Christmas classic, and more greet visitors.
Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade (Fort Lauderdale)
December 14, 2019
This annual tradition is a great way to kick off the holiday season in south Florida. Join thousands of viewers along the 12-mile parade route to see beautifully decorated boats in this one-of-a-kind floating parade.
FL511 photo of the month
Members of the FL511 Marketing Team meet with attendees at the Florida Automated Vehicles Summit on November 21 and 22 in Miami. FL511 had an exhibit at the summit to share information about the system with conference participants.