On September 2, Driver Education coordinators, law enforcement liaisons, and traffic safety partners from across Florida met for the quarterly DEACOS call. The series has a new name, "Driving Conversations" and appears on the website's events section each month.

Here is what came out of it.

Why the Name Changed

This has always been a working call rather than a formal meeting, so the series is now Driving Conversations. The invitation list is open to a broader group of traffic safety partners, and the cadence stays quarterly.

Where Driver Education Is Missing

First time attendee, Tim Roberts of the Florida Law Enforcement Liaison program, made the case that Driver Education coordinators are underrepresented at Community Traffic Safety Team meetings. LELs cover all seven FDOT districts and already sit at those tables. CTST meetings are where the working relationships with law enforcement, EMS, fire, and school board officials get built, and where local grant money surfaces first.

If Driver Education is not in the room, Driver Education is not in the conversation. 

Find your local contact

Your district Law Enforcement Liaison: floridalel.info
Your CTST coordinator: FDOT Community Traffic Safety Teams page

Reports from Around the State

Brevard. Danielle O'Reilly is planning a teen driver safety fair for April with the Space Coast Transportation Planning Organization.

Polk. Tiffany Kitchens is launching Ready Set Drive teen driver rallies across four regions, targeting a November start, with e-bike safety in scope and Lakeland Regional as a local partner.

Also Announced

• 27 members now hold dual ADTSEA and ADTSEA-FL membership.
• A full revamp of the ADTSEA online training suite is coming.
• The model curriculum standards are with FLDOE, which has convened a review group to develop an instructor guide, targeted for release next year.
• A statewide Driver Education summit is planned for next May.
• FDOT has launched Florida's Traffic Safety Resource Center for online ordering of safety materials at fdotsafetycenter.com.

Award Nominations Close October 15

ADTSEA-FL is forming a review committee to evaluate award packets before they go to national. Send nominations to ADTSEA-FL by October 15. Categories are Teacher Excellence, Novice Teacher of the Year, the Richard Kaywood Memorial Award, which requires 15 years of service, and Distinguished Service.

If you know someone in Florida who has earned the recognition, nominate them.