ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Day-after-day, two folks both die or are severely injured on the roads of Pinellas County, based on information from Ahead Pinellas, a corporation devoted to bettering avenue security.
With new funding, they intention to establish probably the most hazardous roads for drivers.
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Native perspective:
A poignant reminder to drive safely could be seen on Fourth Road in St. Petersburg, the place lives have been misplaced. This avenue is among the many deadliest in Pinellas County, based mostly on information compiled by Ahead Pinellas from 2014-2019.
Now, with a $400,000 grant from the federal transportation division, the group plans to replace this listing with information from the previous 5 years.
Dig deeper:
Valerie Brookens, the principal planner at Ahead Pinellas, defined that roughly 5% of roadways represent the high-injury community, the place 60-70% of deadly and severe harm crashes happen.
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US 19, a widely known street for drivers, has seven recognized hotspots for severe crashes. Different harmful areas embody three hotspots alongside Bay Drive in Largo and two on Central Avenue in St. Petersburg.
Ahead Pinellas is dedicated to its Imaginative and prescient Zero initiative, aiming to get rid of all lethal crashes by 2045.
The brand new funding may also assist the set up of 10 near-miss cameras at intersections but to be decided. These cameras will assist establish not solely lethal and severe harm crashes but additionally spots the place dangers are growing.
What’s subsequent:
By pinpointing harmful roads, Brookens stated Ahead Pinellas can suggest options, prioritize funding for security enchancment tasks and educate drivers. She defined street design performs a vital function in driver conduct; large lanes and open areas can encourage sooner driving.
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Brookens stated the challenge will take about two years and can embody neighborhood engagement periods.
Week of Remembrance
Ahead Pinellas is internet hosting a Week of Remembrance as a part of the upcoming World Day of Remembrance (November 16) to honor the reminiscence of the lives which were tragically misplaced or eternally impacted by roadway crashes all through Pinellas County.
Chosen tales will probably be featured throughout Ahead Pinellas’s social media channels through the Week of Remembrance, November 10-14, to honor victims and assist unfold life-saving messages to our native communities.
They’re asking you to share your private story by means of this on-line brief kind by November 7. The shape means that you can:
- Add a photograph of your beloved or your self.
- Share the circumstances of the crash.
- Inform us about your beloved and their legacy or describe how the crash has impacted your life.
- Present a security message you need others to remove.
The Supply: The data on this story was gathered by FOX 13’s Genevieve Curtis by means of an interview with Ahead Pinellas and information from a presentation.
