Sheriff Gets $70,000 Grant for Pedestrian Safety

This is part of an unsettling trend in Pinellas County where there are  3.24 pedestrian deaths per 100,000 people. This exceeds the national average of 1.59, according to the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office. 

With the $70,000, the sheriff hopes to improve pedestrian safety through enforcement and education efforts. The grant continues the support from the original grant of $20,000 in 2010. 

"In Florida, pedestrian crashes account for less than 2% of all crashes but make up 7.5% of all severe crashes and 24% of all fatal crashes," according to the sheriff's office.

The grant money will be used to conduct traffic enforcement details and
education outreach programs about pedestrian safety across Pinellas County. 

The goal of the expanded program is "to reduce traffic crashes and fatalities involving pedestrians."

Do you think the streets around us are safe for pedestrians? Let us know in the comments.