FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 2008-12-01

Motorist Safety Breaks and Extended Road Ranger Patrols on Florida's Turnpike During Peak Travel Days During Christmas and New Year Holidays

ORLANDO –Free Coffee Safety Breaks for travelers on the heaviest travel days during the upcoming Christmas and New Year’s Holiday period are among the expanded motorist services being offered by Florida’s Turnpike. Take a Coffee Safety Break on the Turnpike Florida’s Turnpike, Florida Highway Patrol Troop K, State Farm, HMS Host and Martin Petroleum urge drivers to take a Safety Break if they become fatigued. On Christmas and New Year’s Eve, and Christmas and New Year’s Day, motorists may stop at any of the eight Turnpike service plazas and help themselves to a free cup of coffee. In return, they must promise the attendant that they and their passengers will buckle up to Survive the Drive. This complimentary pick-me-up is available only at the following times: 􀂃 10 p.m., Wednesday, December 24 to 6 a.m., Thursday, December 25 􀂃 10 p.m., Thursday, December 25 to 6 a.m., Friday, December 26 􀂃 10 p.m., Wednesday, December 31 to 6 a.m., Thursday, January 1 􀂃 10 p.m., Thursday, January 1 to 6 a.m., Friday, January 2 State Farm Safety Patrol The State Farm Safety Patrol Road Rangers—who travel the Turnpike in specially equipped pickup trucks and provide motorists with free roadside assistance for their disabled vehicles—will provide systemwide extended hours of coverage for peak travel days, as follows: Turnpike Mainline and the Sawgrass Expressway: • December 23-24—6 a.m. to midnight • December 28—6 a.m. to midnight • December 31—6 a.m. to midnight • January 1—1 to 4 a.m. and noon to midnight State Roads 417, 429 and 528: • Daily—6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Veterans Expressway: • Daily—6 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. On all other dates, State Farm Safety Patrol Road Ranger hours are: Turnpike Mainline and the Sawgrass Expressway: • Monday—Friday, 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. • Saturday & Sunday noon to 8 p.m. SR 417, 429 and 528: • 6 a.m.—10 p.m. Veterans Expressway: • Monday—Friday, 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Additionally, motorist aid call boxes are located every mile along both sides of the Turnpike mainline for travelers who need police, ambulance or roadway services. These are not voice communication devices; instead, electronic signals are transmitted to the Florida Highway Patrol, which dispatches the necessary service vehicles. Motorists may also dial *FHP (*347) or 911 on a cellular phone for assistance. If calling for assistance via cell phone, please be prepared to give an approximate mile-marker and travel direction to the dispatcher—especially important in remote and rural areas. Check your Tire Air Pressure Florida Highway Patrol, Martin Petroleum and Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise remind motorists that they should check their tires for proper air pressure when traveling long distances. Cold temperatures may cause the air in the tires to contract and affect the tire pressure. If you are unsure of the correct tire pressure for your vehicle, stop at any gas station at a Turnpike service plaza, and a uniformed attendant will assist you. Before you leave home and while driving, Real-time Traffic Information Updates Before leaving home, motorists may look for real-time traffic information on the Turnpike’s website by visiting www.floridasturnpike.com. Travelers should pay careful attention to overhead lighted message boards and tune to the Highway Advisory Radio (1640 AM) for updated Turnpike traffic advisories. Flashing yellow lights on the blue Highway Advisory Radio signs indicate an important message is being broadcast. While traveling in the Orlando, South Florida and Tampa Bay regions, motorists should dial 511 for real-time regional traffic information. This information system is voice-activated; motorists should speak the name of the road they wish to use. This free service of the Florida Department of Transportation is available 24/7. While visiting the Turnpike service plazas, travelers should check the overhead plasma screen televisions for real-time traffic information. The displays also feature important safety and travel messages, and other information designed to help you reach your destination safely. Motorists should expect heavy congestion at the mainline toll plazas on the busiest travel days, and be prepared for sudden, intermittent stops, especially near the Leesburg (milepost 288), Three Lakes (milepost 236) and Lake Worth/Lantana (milepost 88) mainline toll plazas. Construction Suspended Regularly scheduled construction and maintenance-related lane closures and restrictions on Florida’s Turnpikeoperated roads are suspended from 6 a.m., Wednesday, December 24, through 6 a.m., Monday, January 5, 2009, in anticipation of heavy traffic volumes. A Friendly Reminder from Florida Highway Patrol: Buckle Up and Survive the Drive The Florida Highway Patrol and Florida Department of Transportation encourage motorists to use extra caution while traveling, and to buckle up. Florida Highway Patrol will team up with local and county law enforcement agencies during the holiday season to deter three key causes of highway fatalities: speeding, impaired driving and failure to use occupant restraints. Enhanced law enforcement during the holiday break includes DUI wolf packs, and aggressive driving and seat belt enforcement details. Aircraft will assist troopers on the road to seek out and ticket aggressive drivers. For holiday traffic safety tips from Florida Highway Patrol, visit http://www.flhsmv.gov/fhp/misc/Christmas/. To find out more about the Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise statewide system of limited-access roads, call the public information office at 800-749-PIKE (800-749-7453), or visit the website at http://www.floridasturnpike.com. 

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