Sarasota Police Partner With NASCAR To Reduce Pedestrian Crashes

SARASOTA, FL – Speeding may be encouraged when you’re a NASCAR driver competing on a raceway. However, Sarasota Police warn residents that speeding on local roads jeopardizes the lives of bicyclists and pedestrians in the community.

To emphasize the point, Sarasota Police are partnering with NASCAR to highlight Sarasota's High Visibility Enforcement Program aimed at reducing accidents involving pedestrians, bicyclists and motorcyclists.

On Thursday, March 8 at 1 p.m., representatives from the Sarasota Police Department command staff and traffic unit will partner with NASCAR and the Florida Department of Transportation to highlight the ongoing High Visibility Enforcement Program currently underway in Sarasota.

Guest speakers will include Sgt. Bruce King of the Sarasota Police Department Traffic Unit and NASCAR driver Scott Lagasse Jr., who finished fifth at the Daytona Raceway Feb. 17.

Noting that March is Florida Bicycle Month, Lagasse will discuss the importance of bicycle safety while King will highlight the latest efforts by Sarasota Police officers to reduce bike and pedestrian accidents.

Since November, Sarasota Police officers have been working with the Florida Department of Transportation and the University of South Florida's Center for Urban Transportation Research on an initiative to step up traffic enforcement and educate drivers, cyclists and pedestrians about traffic laws in four areas of the city.

The four areas are intersections that have a high volume of traffic and a high number of crashes involving cars, pedestrians and bicyclists.

They include

• Main Street from the 100 block to 2000 block
• Fruitville Road from North Tamiami Trail (State Road 45) to Beneva Road
• North Tamiami Trail from Mound Street to University Parkway
• North Washington Boulevard (U.S. 301) from Main Street to Myrtle Avenue

"The safety of our community is our No. 1 priority,” King said. “We want every driver, pedestrian and bicyclist to understand and know the rules of the road. Safety doesn't happen by accident."

Sarasota’s High Visibility Enforcement Program is a proving ground for a statewide initiative intended to make Florida roads safer for pedestrians and bicyclists.

In 2016, Florida ranked as the second deadliest state for pedestrians, with 3.22 deaths per 100,000 residents. New Mexico was first. From January to June 2017, 303 people were killed walking on Florida roads.

After a period of handing out warnings and educational materials to drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians, Sarasota Police are now issuing tickets at the four target areas to people who don’t properly use crosswalks, heed signals telling pedestrians when to cross or fail to yield to pedestrians and bicyclists.

Images via Scott Lagasse Jr.