How to Survive With a Florida Hardship License
If your Florida drivers license has been suspended due to excessive points on your record, you have the opportunity to earn your privilege back by completing a Florida ADI course . While you are waiting to complete the course, you may still drive to and from your place of employment by receiving a Florida hardship license. (For more information on what a Hardship License is and how to get one, see our guide on Florida hardship licenses .)
However, your mobility problems aren’t completely solved once you have a hardship license in hand. While you work towards earning full driving privileges again, you will need to make a few lifestyle adjustments in order to function normally. Here are a few things you can do to keep your life running in the meantime.
Get Your Groceries Delivered
Having your travel restricted to only between your work and your home makes your everyday errands more challenging than usual. Even simple things like buying groceries and transporting them to your home now require extra planning, since you can’t just drive to get the job done. An easy solution is to simply check out local grocers that offer grocery delivery. For an extra fee, most large supermarket chains and even a few mom and pop grocers can bring your groceries straight to your door.
Harness the Power of Public Transportation
A cheap and easy way to instantly increase your mobility while living with a Florida hardship license is to simply purchase as bus pass. If you in Orange, Osceola or Seminole counties, you can get a Lynx pass for a week or a month at a time. That will give you the power to use public transportation as much as you want – to visit family, friends, or do anything else you want to do – for a single flat rate.
Get to Know Your Local Weatherman
The limited driving privileges afforded by the Florida hardship license mean that you will probably do a whole lot more walking. And this means that weather conditions are going to greatly affect just how pleasant or easy your travels outside of your home will be. For that reason, it makes sense to always be aware of impending weather conditions. If you know when a storm or a heat wave is coming, you can plan your travels in order to avoid suffering the brunt of them. If you have a smartphone, there are countless free apps which allow you to check the 7-day forecast any time you want.
Become Familiar with Your Territory
Since you are going to travel primarily through walking and public transportation, getting to your usual places is going to take a bit longer than it does with a car. With that in mind, it pays to figure out exactly how long it will take to travel to your typical driving destinations, and adjust your plans accordingly. How long does it take to get to your friend’s house? What about your usual hangout spots? What is the best way to get to your dry cleaner? Knowing exactly how long it takes to get around will prevent you from being tardy and will make it easier to plan out your day.
