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Keep up decline in traffic deaths

Here's an instance where it is good to see Hernando County bucking a statewide trend.

Statistics released recently by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles show that traffic deaths have increased statewide more than 11 percent compared with this time last year: from 2,158 to 2,401.

But in Hernando County, the number of traffic fatalities decreased significantly - from 27 to 20, or 26 percent - during the same period of Jan. 1 to Aug. 31. In fact, in the five-county Tampa Bay region, Hernando posted the largest percentage decrease in fatal crashes.

Only Citrus County, with a 22 percent drop, even came close. Pinellas County had a small decline (8 percent). But Hillsborough and Pasco counties were up 15 percent and 12 percent, respectively. That mirrors a statewide trend that shows the number of deadly accidents is escalating in metropolitan areas.

The report about Hernando County is particularly good news because it comes on the heels of its deadliest traffic year on record. In 2004, 49 people lost their lives on county roads.

Also, the decrease in fatal accidents in Hernando County has occurred as the population has increased by about 6,000 since Jan. 1, to 155,450.

While it is impossible to draw hard-and-fast conclusions about why there have been fewer traffic deaths for the first eight months of 2005 than the year before, there is room for reasonable speculation.

One explanation is that the Sheriff's Office has centralized its traffic enforcement team and changed the way it approaches the challenge of making roads safer.

In addition to the road deputies who routinely patrol the county, there is a 15-member Selective Traffic Enforcement Team. The so-called STEP unit is using statistical data to identify areas that are dangerous and then focusing its efforts accordingly. For instance, the data they collect and analyze can show not only where accidents might occur, but the most likely day of the week or even the time of day. It also provides insight about what factors caused an accident, such as speeding, negligence, alcohol, road conditions or congestion.

The Sheriff's Office also is working more closely with traffic engineers to study the design of roads, signs and signals.

Those are practical, constructive approaches to a public safety issue that largely has been addressed reactively.

Twenty deaths in eight months is still far too many, and the year is not over. But whether it is a combination of vigilance, safe drivers or plain luck, it is good to know fewer people are dying on Hernando County roads.

[Last modified September 21, 2005, 00:24:18]