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Lead foot may bring light wallet
By JON WILSON © St. Petersburg Times, published September 27, 2000 ST. PETERSBURG -- Drivers, take note: Last week's police crackdown on Fourth Street N speeding is likely to be repeated in other locations around town. "Traffic is always a big issue," said Lt. Tom Carey, who leads the police traffic squad in one aspect of an ongoing three-part program to make city streets safer. "You have crashes throughout the city. There are deaths and property damage, so it's a big concern," Carey said. Months of stepped-up traffic enforcement and the posting of safety signs around town apparently have reduced accidents, although the statistics aren't all recorded yet, officials say. "The number of crashes have dropped lately, and more importantly, their severity," said Angelo Rao, city traffic manager. "It's not a lot, unfortunately, and I wish the numbers were better, but they're in the right trend." Most crashes happen during the going-home rush hours between 4 and 7 p.m., Carey said, with 34th Street, 38th Avenue N and 66th Street N among the more accident-prone thoroughfares. The year's worst intersection has been 34th Street N and 22nd Avenue, with 29 accidents there from Jan. 1 to Aug. 31, Carey said. The Gandy Boulevard and Fourth Street intersection ranks second with 25. Several city departments have worked together starting as far back as 18 months ago to cut down on accidents. Their effort is called the Triple-E program: enforcement, education and engineering. The enforcement campaign last Friday on Fourth Street N resulted in 147 tickets issued by officers, including 133 for speeding, Carey said. Others were issued for such offenses as seat belt violations and driving with faulty equipment. Fifteen officers "were out there pretty much the whole day," Carey said. He said a contingent moved over to monitor First Street N between 30th and 40th avenues after a resident complained about speeders. But no citations were issued there. Most of the officers were off-duty or had gone on to other responsibilities when Fourth Street's going-home crush began. But some motorists reported seeing the stream of TGIF drivers using extra care, which suggests to officials that their efforts are working. Establishing a permanent cautious attitude is their goal. The education element of the safety program tries to get the word out through neighborhood associations. Portable message signs and digital speed monitors are moved here and there to remind drivers about speed and safety issues. The engineering aspect includes installing traffic-calming devices such as neck-outs. Carey points to reduced accidents as evidence that the Triple-E project is working. And Rao said he is encouraged so far. "I think it's very effective, particularly in terms of a mindset, which is what I'm after," he said. "It's starting to jell a little a bit, but it needs a lot of work. It has to be perpetual." Carey said he has a personal stake in traffic safety, having had the responsibility of notifying next of kin after fatal accidents. "I've done some of those in the past. When you have to do that, it makes an impression on you that never leaves you," Carey said. "I know people get upset when they get a ticket, and they see all those officers out there, (thinking they are) trying to make a quota. That's not it at all. You're trying to reduce the speed to stop some of these accidents." Sometimes an effective way to do that is through the wallet. Speeding tickets are expensive. They cost $45 if the citation is for driving 9 mph or less over the limit. And then the tally goes up somewhat dramatically: It's $120 for 10 to 14 miles over the limit; $145 for 15 to 19; $170 for 20 to 29; and $270 for 30 or higher.
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From the Times South Pinellas desks |
