https://wslr.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Sarasota-PD-High-Visibility.mp3 The Sarasota Police Department held a press conference on Wednesday, March 8th to highlight the high visibility enforcement program currently happening in the City of Sarasota. Since November, Sarasota Police officers have been partnering with the Florida Department Of Transportation and the University of South Florida’s Center for Urban Transportation Research to observe, educate and enforce traffic laws in four chosen areas in the City of Sarasota.
This is all in an attempt to reduce the number of pedestrian, bicycle and motor vehicle crashes. The four intersections were selected based on crash data involving pedestrians, bicyclists and motor vehicles. The following are:
Main Street (between 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
In 2017, there were 138 crashes involving a pedestrian or bicycle within the City of Sarasota. 5 resulted in fatalities.
Speakers included Chief Bernandette DiPino, Sergeant Bruce King, Sarasota Police Department Traffic Unit, and Scott Lagasse, Jr., NASCAR driver.
Picture credit: Marieli A. De Jesus Gordils