• Hospitalization-Associated Disability “She Was Probably Able to Ambulate, But I’m Not Sure”
• Hospital Management of Older Adults
• Adverse Events in Hospitals: National Incidents Among Medicare Beneficiaries
• Acute Care For Elder Units Produce Shorter Hospital Stays At Lower Costs While Maintaining Patients’ Functional Status
• Elderly Patients In The Hospital Need To Keep Moving

According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Florida had 737 boating accidents in 2015, an increase of 103 accidents from the year before. The leading cause of boating accidents was collision with another vessel (191) and often was the result of no proper look-out / inattention. Boaters falling overboard remains the main cause of boating fatalities (22) and the leading cause of death in fatal boating accidents was drowning (35). Top injuries included back and head injuries, broken bones, contusions and lacerations.

Broward County ranked 3rd in Florida Vessel Registration and Accidents by County

• Recreational Vessels – 41,201
• Total Vessels – 42,671
• Reportable Accidents – 57
• Fatalities – 5
• Injuries – 42
• Property Damage – $3,651,600

Here are Some Recommended Safe Boating Tips

• Take a Safe Boating Class
• Know the Navigation Rules
• Know your Vessel and Maintain Your Vessel
• Wear a Floatation Device
• Develop a Float Plan
• Always Monitor the Weather
• Avoid Alcohol
• Use Emergency Position-Indicating Rescue Beacon (EPIRB)
• Use Common Sense

Click here to download U.S. Coast Guard’s Boating Safety Guide and Equipment and Departure Checklists.

The month of May celebrates National BBQ Month. Now that the weather across the country is warmer and summer is quickly approaching, more people are lighting up their barbecues. While many use this time to stake their claim as the nation’s best BBQ or to share recipes and cooking tips, we wanted to share some BBQ safety tips.

The National Fire Protection Association states that seven out of 10 adults in the U.S. have a grill or a smoker. This mean more chances for fire risks and injuries. Between 2011-2015, fire departments were called to an annual average of 9,600 home fires that involved grills, hibachis or barbecues. Believe it or not, each year 16,600 people visit the ER due to injuries involving grills, including 8,200 thermal burns. Many of the injuries were the result of improper use.

Propane & Charcoal Safety

• Read your owner’s manual and learn how to use your grill properly before you start grilling.
• Grills should only be used outside, well away from any structure – homes, leaves, or branches, preferably 10 feet or more.
• Utilize grilling gloves and long handled utensil to keep your arms, hands and face safe from the flames and heat.
• Wear appropriate clothing while grilling. Avoid wearing loose or hanging clothing as it could catch fire if it comes into contact with the flames.
• Keep children and pets away from grilling area, preferable 3 or more feet away.
• Keep baking soda near the grill, along with a fire extinguisher and know how to use it.
• Never leave a grill unattended. Note that a grill can also stay hot one hour after use.
• Before using a propane grill, check for any gas leaks. Use a light soap and water solution to the hoses. If you see bubbles you have a leak. Also, there could be the smell of gas.
• Always make sure the gas grill cover is open before lighting it. If the flame goes out, turn the grill and the gas off, then wait at least five minutes to re-light it.
• If you use a charcoal grill, only use charcoal starter fluid. If additional assistance is needed, consider using a charcoal chimney starter which allows you to start the charcoal using newspaper as a fuel.
• If you use an electric grill, use a proper extension cord for outdoor use.
• Do not overload your grill with food to prevent flare-ups.
• Clean your grill after every use to remove grease and fat buildup and to prevent flare ups.
• When you are finished using your gas grill turn off all your burners and the fuel supply. Do not move the grill until it has cooled off.
• When you are finished using your charcoal grill, let the coals completely cool before disposing in a metal container.

Have a safe time with family and friends while enjoying one of American’s favorite backyard pastimes.

A string of deadly school bus stop accidents has parents, school bus drivers, law enforcement, and safety officials saying enough. During one week in November 2018, tragedy struck:

• In Rochester, Indiana, a motorist stuck three young siblings at school bus stop. The motorist passed the school bus even while the bus’s lights flashed, and the stop arm was extended.
• In Baldwyn, Mississippi, a truck driver hit and killed a young boy crossing the street to get on his school bus. The driver failed to heed school bus stop sign and flashing signal warnings.
• In Tampa, Florida, a motorist hit five children and two adults while waiting for the school bus. Fortunately, no one was killed in this incident and the accident remains under investigation.
• In Tallahassee, Florida, a five-year-old was struck by a vehicle while boarding his school bus. The teenage driver did not stop for the bus with its flashers and stop arm down.
• In Franklin Township, Pennsylvania, a seven-year-old was killed as as he waited at his school bus stop. Police reported that the alleged driver under investigation ran over the young boy at a slow speed and left the scene of the accident. The incident remains under investigation.

The common thread in most of these accidents is that they were PREVENTABLE. Motorists are simply paying too much attention to their cell phone or their digital dashboard displays and not enough attention on the road and driving. Other motorists are in too much of a rush, speeding and violating road signals and bus signage. And, even though it is illegal in all U.S. states, a study estimated more than 15 million drivers passed a school bus when it was stopped, lights flashing and stop arm extended last school year alone! This preventable behavior is costing us our children.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) there were 1,282 people of all ages killed in school transportation-related crashes between 2007 and 2016. This is an average of 128 fatalities per year. During this same period, there were 281 school-age children killed in school transportation-related accidents where 98 were pedestrians.

It should not take a needless tragedy and loss of a child to get motorists to care and pay attention while driving around school buses. For additional bus statistics and for some very important safety tips for drivers please click on our blog: Back to School Safety Tips.

Resources:

• NHTSA – Reducing Illegal Passing of School Buses
• NASDPTS – National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services – National Stop Arm Violation Count

If you purchased a new vehicle in the past few years, you probably noticed a lot of new technology options in the cars and trucks. Much of this technology is to improve safety and to provide comfort and convenience features for consumers. Some technology can put consumers at risk – dashboard options causing driver distractions or vehicles and hybrids that are so quiet consumers are forgetting to turn them off.

One technology of concern is keyless ignition systems, also referred to as keyless start, keyless push-button start, intelligent key and smart key. While this specific technology has been in use since the late 1990’s on high-end vehicles, now more than 62 percent of vehicles use keyless ignition systems as standard equipment.

A keyless ignition system allows a car owner to start their car without a physical key being inserted into the ignition. Consumers require the use of a wireless fob to get into their vehicle and then to use the start button key on the dashboard to start the car.

The problem is, some consumers are forgetting to turn off their vehicle, by not using the same button to turn off the vehicle. Fatal accidents and injuries have occurred as a result of the keyless ignition systems. There has been an increase in carbon monoxide deaths and injuries when vehicles are not shut down or were accidentally left running when the driver and key fob left the vehicle. This is especially dangerous when the vehicle is parked in a garage. Carbon monoxide, which is colorless and odorless spreads through the home, often for hours, or while one is sleeping, which leads to poisoning and then can cause illness, permanent brain damage, and even death.

Since 2006, a total of 37 people have died and 80 have been injured by carbon monoxide gas after drivers left vehicles with push-button ignitions running in the garage, according to the organization KidsAndCars.org. Seven of these deaths occurred in Palm Beach County, Florida. This led the Palm Beach Sheriff’s office to launch this public service announcement in an attempt to educate and save lives.

Due to consumer complaints and preventable deaths, the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) has proposed several regulations to make certain types of safety features mandatory for all keyless ignition systems. This includes standardize length of time necessary to push a control to stop a vehicle and audible warnings if one exits the vehicle without turning the vehicle off. Unfortunately to date, no federal rules have been instituted.

A USA Today article reported that in February, a proposed law dubbed the PARK IT Act was introduced in the U.S. Senate. A House version was introduced June 6. The name stands for Protecting Americans from the Risk of Keyless Technology. It seeks the following:

• That automakers be required to provide an automatic shutoff for keyless internal combustion engines when the car has been idling for a designated period of time.
• That carmakers add an anti-rollaway feature to immobilize a car if a driver exits it, but leaves it in gear.
• It mandates that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration issue rules within two years of the law’s passage.

One automaker, Toyota, has agreed to add new technology to push-button ignition vehicles that would allow themselves to turn off automatically after being parked for a period of time. This technology should be available on most of its fleet starting with 2020 model year vehicles. Toyota also plans on adding more audible and visible warning alerts to get drivers attention if they get out of or walk away from the vehicle without turning off the vehicle.

Until these issues are resolved and new safety measures are implemented, NHTSA recommends that vehicle owners read their owner’s manual to learn how to properly use the vehicle’s keyless ignition system. When shopping for a new vehicle do your research and to see if the vehicle is equipped with alarms and safety features to ensure your vehicle is not running or left in gear.

Florida’s highways are often congested and filled with distracted drivers. Now the State will be adding the first of its kind interchanges that will definitely get driver’s attention. Why you ask – because drivers will be required to go on to “the wrong side of the road.”

These new intersections are called Diverging Diamond Interchanges (DDI). They have been in use throughout the US since 2009. Their purpose is to improve safety, reduce congestion, cut potential collision areas in half, allow left turns onto highways and prevent turning into oncoming traffic. DDI’s also assist with pedestrian sidewalks and bike lanes.

The Sun-Sentinel describes how DDI’s work – lanes crisscross over or under highways so all drivers shift from the right lanes to the left lanes and back again. Traffic signals and pavement markings lead drivers through crossover points.

The first such interchange is in Sarasota at University Parkway and I-75 and became operational in May 2017. Florida Today reports that the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has 38 more DDI’s planned or in the works in Palm Bay, Miami and Yulee including on highways like the Dolphin Expressway and I-4. In Broward County a new interchange is being designed for the Sawgrass Expressway at Coral Ridge Drive, Sample Road, Commercial, Oakland Park, and Sunrise boulevards.

Initially the biggest hurdle for these intersections will be driver confusion. Education and public awareness campaigns will be key. It will take some time to collect data to know if these DDI’s reduce collisions and improve traffic congestion.

Resources:

• Florida Department of Transportation DDI Training Document
• FDOT Northeast Florida Roads DDI Video
• Federal Highway Administration Diverging Diamond Interchange Information Guide

Babies and young children put things in their mouths for many reasons – hunger, boredom, curiosity, entertainment, etc. It starts with fingers and toes, and gradually up to any object they can find and pick up. Kids do this naturally as they learn to explore, taste, see, touch, hold, hear, smell and everything in between.

We saw this with Tide Pods with young children and even seniors. Young children and the elderly, with dementia, thought the squishy, colored pod was candy and they tried to eat them. As a result, Pods average 11,568 poison-control calls each year involving kids, since its introduction in 2013.

A new study by the Consumer Product Safety Commission looked at the number of kids under the age of 6 who visited the emergency room (ER) after swallowing an object between the years 1995 and 2015. They discovered the number of ER visits doubled over the 20-year period. An average of 99 kids per day visit the ER and over the 20-year period more than 755,000 children have sought treatment (including surgical removal) in the ER after swallowing something.

The most common items swallowed include pennies, marbles, small toys, magnets, earrings, rings, game pieces, buttons, batteries and more.

Here are some things to do if you believe your child swallowed something:

• Remain calm.
• Call 911 or go to the ER – if the child swallowed something that immediately obstructs their windpipe and they are experiencing respiratory distress or they have any of these symptoms – drooling, gagging, spitting, chest pain or the sensation of an object being stuck in the throat.
• Call or take your child to the doctor if they swallowed something sharp or a battery.
• Call your child’s doctor if your child swallowed something metal like a coin.
• Call your child’s doctor if your child swallowed a non-sharp object.
• Parents or caregivers should never attempt to forcefully remove any objects in the esophagus.
• For help, you can also call Poison Control at 800-222-1222.
• While some foreign objects will pass harmlessly through a child’s gastrointestinal track and stool, they still should be monitored for several days. You should always consult with your child’s doctor about their status.

How to keep your child from swallowing items:

• Watch young children closely.
• Child proof your home by getting on your child’s level and looking for hazards and removing them.
• Keep all small objects, sharp objects and batteries out of a child’s sight and reach.
• Keep small part toys that could be swallowed away from children.
• Do your research and purchase safe toys that are appropriate for the child’s age and show them how to play with the toy.
• Model good behavior and redirect unwanted behavior.
• Tell your kid no, that is it not okay to put that object in their mouth.
• Consider switching the unappropriated item for something that is acceptable – like animal crackers
• Learn to redirect your child to something that they may find more interesting.
• Use products with child resistant packaging.

According to the World Health Organization, the United States leads the world in ladder deaths. Each year, there are more than 164,000 emergency room-treated injuries and 300 deaths in the U.S. that are caused by falls from ladders.

Most ladder deaths occur from falls that are 10 feet or less.

The common causes of ladder deaths and injuries include incorrect ladder setup angle, setting ladder on uneven surface, not locking ladder spreaders in horizontal position, using the wrong ladder, insufficient ladder inspection, improper ladder use, leaning and overreaching, and lack of access to ladder safety tools, information and training. In some instance is it due to a defective product.

Falls can occur in the home and in the workplace. There are many different jobs and scenarios where one may need to use a ladder – fixing roofs, cleaning gutters, reaching a top shelf, hanging holiday lights, or window cleaning. Construction workers and extraction (mining) occupations are at most risk followed by installation, maintenance and repair occupations.

Falls have occurred as a result of the ladder user holding objects in one hand while trying to scale up or down the ladder; wearing inappropriate shoes; wearing wet, greasy or oily shoes; being inattentive and missing a step; losing their balance; leaning or overreaching causing the ladder to tip; losing their handgrip, losing ladder surface grip, or standing on the ladder above where indicated for safe ladder usage. Some people do not remember how they fell or they were too embarrassed to tell.

While ladders can be useful tools, when used incorrectly, they can cause serious injuries including sprains, bruising, cuts, abrasions, fractures, broken bones, head injuries, concussions, spinal cord injuries, paralysis, electrocutions, and even death.

Injuries from ladder falls can be severe but are preventable.

Common sense and basic safety practice go a long way to preventing ladder falls, injuries, and death. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recommends that that ladder users follow the manufacturer’s instructions and ladder labels, face the ladder while climbing up and down, keep slippery materials away from ladders, use a barricade to keep traffic away, only put ladders on a stable, level surface, maintain three points of contact (two hands and a foot, or two feet and a hand), and always check for and avoid, overhead powerlines. Additional resources and safety tips are below.

Ladder Resources:

• https://www.osha.gov/Publications/ladders/osha3124.html
• https://www.osha.gov/pls/publications/publication.athruz?pType=Industry&pID=463
• https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=STANDARDS&p_id=10839
• https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/fallprotection/index.html
• https://www.osha.gov/OshDoc/data_Hurricane_Facts/portable_ladder_qc.pdf
• https://www.nsc.org/home-safety/tools-resources/safety-checkup/ladders
• https://www.popularmechanics.com/home/how-to/a9631/dont-be-an-idiiot-how-to-use-any-kind-of-ladder-safely-16123359/

Texting and walking is no longer funny. It has gone way beyond a quick laugh from watching YouTube. People and pedestrians are getting seriously hurt – cuts, bruises, broken bones, concussions, brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and even death.

Texting and walking is becoming more common and more dangerous. This also includes other walking distractions like talking on the phone, listening to music and playing games. People are bumping into other people, bumping into walls, walking into glass doors, falling down stairs, falling into fountains, falling off sidewalks, walking into traffic, and causing traffic accidents.

According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), nearly 5,000 pedestrians were killed and an estimated 76,000 injured in traffic collisions in the United States in 2012; Although it is not clear how many of these incidents were due to distracted walking, The National Governor’s Highway Safety Association data shows that pedestrian fatalities have spiked 11% in 2017 to nearly 6,000. That is a significant increase and could account for the phone use for activities other than just phone calls.

Most U.S. states already ban texting by drivers but not distracted walkers. While some cities try public information campaigns, educational programs, or apps and other measures, other cities like Connecticut, New York, Illinois, Arkansas, and Nevada are considering putting an end to distracted walking. While Fort Lee, New Jersey, has banned texting-while-walking, Honolulu is the first U.S. city to pass legislation – Distracted Walking Law – making it illegal to text while crossing the street. This also includes people using laptops, digital cameras and video games. When the law goes into effect later this year, first-time violators will be fined $15-$35; second-time violators within the same year will be on the hook for $35-$75; and those who get ticketed a third time will be charged $75-$99.

A 2015 study by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) found that 78% of U.S. adults believe that distracted walking is a “serious” issue, but only 29% of respondents admit that they, personally, have an issue. And three-quarters of Americans say it’s “other people” who walk distracted.

Since our children and young adults are on their phones more than ever, we need to educate them on the hazards of distracted walking and help to keep them safe. Here are a few safety tips from NHTSA and the National Safety Council (NSC) for children and adults of all ages on how to prevent distracted walking accidents:

• Look left, right and left again before crossing the street; looking left a second time is necessary; because a car can cover a lot of distance in a short amount of time;
• Make eye contact with drivers of oncoming vehicles to make sure they see you;
• Be aware of drivers even when you’re in a crosswalk; vehicles have blind spots;
• Don’t wear headphones while walking;
• Never use a cell phone or other electronic device while walking;
• If your view is blocked, move to a place where you can see oncoming traffic;
• Never rely on a car to stop;
• Children younger than 10 should cross the street with an adult;
• Only cross at designated crosswalks;
• Wear bright and/or reflective clothing;
• Walk in groups; and
• Follow the rules of the road and obey signs and signals.

Now that school is back in session, it is important to teach children good safety behavior while walking to and from school. Kids often do not think about the consequences of their actions and one bad decision can have horrible consequences.

A 2015 Pew Research report found that 73% of 13-to 17-year-olds have their own smartphone or access to one, and 24 percent said they were online “almost constantly.” According to a study by The Nielsen Company, kids age 13 to 17 send more than 3,400 texts a month.

In a 2016 study by Safe Kids Worldwide called Alarming Dangers in School Zones, researchers observed middle and high school students crossing the street in a school zone. They found that 80 percent of students were crossing the street in an unsafe manner. The kids crossed the street against the light, they did not cross at designated crossing areas, and they did not look before crossing the road. The distracted teens were most likely to be wearing headphones (44 percent) or texting (31 percent).

Safekids.org states that nearly 60 kids under the age of 19 are hit by cars every day in the U.S. The data shows that 1 in 4 high school students and 1 in 6 middle school students are distracted while walking. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that one in five teens die each week while walking.

Of the 484 pedestrians ages 19 and younger who died after being hit by a motor vehicle in 2013, 47 percent were age 15 to 19, according to Injury Facts 2015. It was also reported that 16,000 pedestrians 19 and younger were injured in 2013 – that’s 44 per day.

Here are some safety tips that parents can use when teaching their children how to walk safely:

• Talk to your kids about how to be safe while walking.
• Tell your kids to always walk on sidewalks.
• Tell your kids to use crosswalks and traffic signals to cross the street, if available.
• Tell your kids to never walk while texting or talking on the phone.
• Tell your kids to never cross the street while using an electronic device.
• Tell your kids to not walk with headphones on.
• Tell your kids to be aware of their surroundings at all times.
• Teach your kids to always look left, right, and then left again before crossing the street.
• Remind kids to make eye contact with drivers before crossing the street and to watch out for cars that are turning or backing up.

Distracted walking does pose a serious threat to kids and others on the street. Distracted walking can cause serious injuries and deaths, which are preventable. Please do your part to prevent these needless pedestrian fatalities – put the phone down – your calls, texts, emails, and social media updates can wait until you have crossed the road or are in safe place. Help ensure that it is a safe school year.

When you call 911 or an ambulance in an emergency, you probably think you will be quickly cared for and taken to the closest hospital. What if we told you, that is not always the case? What if we told you, you could be turned away?

There is a little-known practice called ambulance diversion or hospital diversion. Hospitals began using diversion to address overcrowding issues in their emergency rooms back in the 1980s. Hospitals may use diversion if equipment fails or with an unexpected emergency like flooding or the electricity is out. But now some critics claim the problem is the hospital themselves, with poor and inefficient patient care systems in moving patients through the hospital which causes problems in the ER. As a result, when an ambulance requests to go to a specific hospital during an emergency, the ambulance could be directed to another facility. This facility could be miles away and may not even specialize in your specific type of emergency.

This diversion can have deadly consequences. A female cafeteria worker at the Medical College of Wisconsin suffered a stroke and ultimately died. She was only 350 yards from the nearest hospital emergency room and its top-level stroke center, when she was diverted. She subsequently was treated by two different hospitals, one which could not handle the case, then later arriving at the second hospital three-and-a-half-hours after showing signs of the stroke.

Ambulance diversion often causes overcrowding at other hospitals, leads to delayed medical care for patients, can increase travel time to a care facility, all of which can lead to a patient’s significant permanent injury or death. A review by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel found that of the 25 largest cities in the U.S., 16 of them including nine of the largest, allow ambulance diversion of some kind, though rules governing when patients can be diverted vary widely.

What we if told you these hospitals were not breaking any laws. Federal law only requires hospitals to treat patients who arrive in their emergency room and make sure they are stable before releasing or transferring them. Fortunately, some communities have voluntarily ended the practice of ambulance diversion. However, until there is some federal regulation or oversight, this practice will most likely continue, to the detriment of the patient.

Well its official, the most dangerous state to bicycle in America is Florida. Florida has the highest per-capital bicyclist death rate in the country. Not only did we make top place, we also have four metro areas that are listed in the top four spots of among the 50th largest metro areas. These metro areas include Tampa-St. Petersburg, Jacksonville, Orlando and Miami.

Florida experienced 6.2 deaths per every 100,000 people from 2016-2017, followed by Louisiana at 3.9 and Arizona at 3.5. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, cyclists killed in motor-vehicle crashes was 840 in 2016 and continues to climb. Deaths have jumped more than 35% since 2010. The leading causes continue to be more drivers on the roadway, higher speed limits, driving under the influence, and distracted driving (cell phone use and texting while driving).

In Florida specifically, many safety officials say that the aging population, the states density, tourism, and unfamiliarity of the roadways are also to blame for an increase in bicycling accidents. Officials believe that the state’s focus of attention on car-centric suburban development also had an impact on the number of bicycling accidents.

Crashes and deadly accidents often happen on local streets. Common crashes included motorist making a right turn (perpendicular) and they hit the cyclist who is crossing from the sidewalk, or a motorist making right hand turn (parallel) where the motorist doesn’t yield to the cyclist who is not turning right, or a motorist who turns left and doesn’t see the cyclist riding through the intersection, or finally when an unexpected move is made and the cyclist enters the roadway at an unexpected angle or location.

Fortunately for those communities that are incorporating bike-share programs, early research is showing a decrease in bicyclist accidents and deaths. There are more than 75 communities that have implemented bike-sharing programs.

Florida is doing its part to improve cycling safety. The Florida Department of Transportation changed its standard width for bike lanes from 4 to 7 feet and now recommends buffered or protected bike lanes. In addition, there are new programs to educate cyclist and motorist, lighting is being improved on roadways used by cyclists, road designs are being improved, and there has been more traffic enforcement. Several Florida cities are implementing Complete Streets. Complete streets are designed and operated to enable safe access for all users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists and transit riders of all ages and abilities.

Additional Articles and Links:

• Pedestrian Deaths on the Increase
• Broward County is Dangerous for Pedestrians & Bicyclists
• Alert Today, Arrive Tomorrow

Roundabouts were established to help keep traffic flowing and improve safety. They are a type of small, one-way circular intersection and drivers travel at slower speeds. They are not rotaries or traffic circles. In a roundabout, there are no lane changes that occur, just vehicles making “crossing movements” in and out of the roundabout.

According to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) roundabouts are a proven safety countermeasure that can reduce fatal and injury crashes between 60-87 percent. Roundabouts have also been effective in managing speed and transitioning traffic from high speeds to low speed zones. Roundabouts have better operational performances from stop lights and have fewer delays. They have also improved pedestrian and cyclist safety.

Roundabouts are located on many U.S. and state highways, local roads, and county roads. Roundabouts can be found in new residential subdivisions, near or on school property, at major interchanges or gateways, at intersections, and often with commercial developments. Florida has more than 20 roundabouts on state highway systems and 300 roundabouts on local roads according to the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT).

With all these roundabouts and with all the benefits and improved safety features, why do roundabouts cause so much driver confusion? Well, many drivers say they just don’t know what to do. They understand what to do at a stop sign or at a traffic light, but at a roundabout, that’s a whole different story. Some drivers were taught about roundabouts when they learned to drive, but it often wasn’t something stressed or they don’t remember because it was so long ago. Many roundabouts were built in the last 10 years and may be new to those on the road. Then you also have drivers that are just not paying attention to the roadway (distracted driving or texting while driving) or they are driving recklessly.

Common issues that occur in roundabouts are drivers who fail to yield to other drivers, drivers who change lanes, and drivers who just stop in the circle and impede the traffic flow.

So how does a driver maneuver a roundabout? In Florida, FDOT provides the following user tips:

• Determine and know where you want to go.
• Treat an approaching roundabout as you would a four-way intersection.
• Reduce your speed to 10-15 mph and stay to the right of the splitter island.
• Be vigilant and watch for pedestrians and cyclists and be prepared to share the roadway or yield or wait for walkers in crosswalks.
• Yield to any traffic already in the roundabout. Enter when you have a safe gap in traffic.
• Do not turn left at the splitter Island.
• Once you are safely in the roundabout, keep moving. Do not stop, except to avoid an accident. Once you are in the roundabout, you have right-of-way over entering traffic.
• Drive in a counter-clockwise direction.
• Look for your exit, use your right turn signal to indicate your exit and safety exit the roundabout.
• Continue to be vigilant, watching for pedestrians and bicyclists as you exit the roundabout.
• Most important, if you should miss your exit, simply ride around the roundabout again to your desired exit.

And finally, when you are in or around a roundabout stay alert to help prevent or avoid an accident.