April 2024 Edition

April is the month when we specifically focus our efforts on bringing awareness to the ever-growing problem of distraction on our roads, including distracted driving, walking, and cycling. Despite the public sentiment that cell phone use while driving is dangerous, many people admit that they engage in the behavior. Distractions can be divided into four types:

Visual: taking your eyes off the task of driving, walking, or riding (texting, using the infotainment system)
Manual: taking your hands off the wheel (texting, infotainment system use)
Cognitive: taking your mind off what you are doing (looking at signs on the side of the road, texting, daydreaming)
Auditory: taking your hearing off your surroundings (loud music, passengers)

While all distractions can endanger both you and others around you, texting is the most alarming because it involves three types of distractions.

One way to prevent distractions is by enabling the Do Not Disturb function on your cell phone. Instructions on how to enable the Do Not Disturb (DND) function on your cell phone are below:

How much do you know about distracted driving? Take the quick quiz below to find out: (answers are at the end of the newsletter) (responses are anonymous and submitted to the TPO for informational purposes only)

1. If you are driving 55 mph, how far will you travel in 4.6 seconds?

a. 5.2 yards or the length of an average car

b. 15 yards or the length of an average school bus

c. 54.7 yards or the length of an Olympic size pool

d. 100 yards or the length of a football field

2. Multitasking is possible because the brain is capable of doing two cognitive tasks at once.

True

False

3. The average text takes ____ seconds to type.

4. According to NHTSA, how many people are killed every day due to distracted driving?

a. 6

b. 9

c. 12

d. 14

5. How long does your brain take to refocus on your surroundings after looking at your phone?

Votran's VoRide Service Expansion

On April 8, 2024, Votran will be expanding its VoRide ridesharing service into Orange City, Deltona, and DeBary. Currently, VoRide operates in DeLand. VoRide is Volusia County's new neighborhood mobility-on-demand transportation service and trip-planning app. Trips can be booked by using the VoRide app or by phone. When you’re ready to leave, use the app or call to schedule your trip within the West Volusia area. The app or customer service will show or tell you the best way to get where you want to go, whether it be a bus or a VoRide trip. Fares for VoRide are $2.00 per person; free connections are available with Votran fixed-route buses.

For more than 50 years, Earth Day has been celebrated throughout the USA and the world. Earth Day takes place on Monday, April 22, 2024 (it is always on April 22). Earth Day was originally established to bring awareness of and support for environmental protection around the world. In recognition of Earth Day and every day, there are many things you can do to help preserve the environment; little choices can make a big impact. Why not try one or all of the following:

Take transit instead of your vehicle
Ride your bike or walk to the grocery store or to nearby errands
Carpool to work
Use reusable grocery bags
Turn off the lights
Switch to energy-saving LED light bulbs
Turn your thermostat to 78 degrees when home; 82 degrees when away
Use a reusable water bottle
Work remotely
Build a community garden

As part of the Earth Day celebration, the River to Sea TPO will be participating in two events:

Ponce Preserves the Planet; Ponce Inlet; April 20
Earth Day Festival, Edgewater; April 27

At these events, the TPO will be encouraging the use of environmentally friendly modes of transportation (walking and cycling) as well as providing safety tips for safe walking and biking.

More information on these events is available below in the Activity Calendar.

April Activity Calendar

Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednes- day	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
3/31	4/1	4/2	4/3 Executive Committee Meeting** 9:00 am	4/4 Volusia Community Traffic Safety Team (CTST) Meeting 9:00 am VC Public Works NE Services Facility 3771 W. ISB Daytona Beach	4/5	4/6
4/7	4/8	4/9 Flagler Community Traffic Safety Team (CTST) Meeting 9:00 am Flagler Gov't Services Bldg. #2 Bunnell	4/10 TDLCB Meeting*** 10:00 am BPAC Meeting* 2:00 pm	4/11	4/12 Central Florida MPO Alliance Meeting 10:00 am MetroPlan Orlando 250 S. Orange Ave Orlando	4/13
4/14	4/15	4/16 CAC Meeting* 1:15 pm TCC Meeting* 3:00 pm	4/17	4/18	4/19	4/20 Ponce Preserves the Planet Earth Day Event 10:00 am Ponce Preserve 4300 S. Atlantic Ave Ponce Inlet
4/21	4/22	4/23	4/24 River to Sea TPO Board Meeting* 9:00 am	4/25 MPOAC Meeting 1:00 pm The Florida Hotel & Conference Center Orlando Central Florida Commuter Rail Commission Board Meeting 2:00 pm Lynx Admin Building 455 North Garland Ave Orlando	4/26	4/27 Earth Day Festival 10:00 am Hawks Park 1108 S. Ridgewood Ave Edgewater
4/28	4/29	4/30	5/1 Executive Committee Meeting** 9:00 am	5/2 Volusia Community Traffic Safety Team (CTST) Meeting 9:00 am VC Public Works NE Services Facility 3771 W. ISB Daytona Beach	5/3	5/4

*Meeting held in the Airline Room at Daytona Beach International Airport, 700 Catalina Drive, Daytona Beach (parking will be validated)

**Meeting held at the River to Sea TPO office, 1 Deuce Court, Suite 100, Daytona Beach

***Meeting held in the Votran Conference Room, 950 Big Tree Road, South Daytona

Upcoming TPO Board

& Committee Activities

During April, the River to Sea TPO Board and Advisory Committees will be taking action on the FY 2024/25 and 2025/26 Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) and the execution of the FDOT/MPO Agreement. The TPO Board will receive presentations on the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's Office of Greenways and Trails Program for Trail Towns and Trail Designations and the TPO's Draft FY 2024/25 to 2028/29 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP).

The BPAC will hear presentations on the Florida Design Manual/Bicycle and Pedestrian Criteria, and the Make Every Ride Count Initiative from Love to Ride and the League of American Bicyclists that will run during National Bicycle Month in May.

The TDLCB will be meeting in April and will hear presentations on Bike/Walk Central Florida's Best Foot Forward for Pedestrian Safety Program and the 2024 Florida Legislative Session.

Additional information on agendas for TPO Board and committee meetings is available at River to Sea TPO Agendas

Information on TPO outreach and activities is available at Outreach & Activities.

How did you do on the distracted driving quiz? Check your answers:

In the time it takes to send a text message (4.6 seconds), you will have traveled 100 yards or the length of a football field. (d)
False; your brain cannot perform two cognitive tasks at once.
The average text takes 4.6 seconds to type. (b)
An estimated nine people are killed every day due to distracted driving. (b)
It takes 13 seconds for your brain to fully refocus on your surroundings after looking at your phone. (b)