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Published on Wednesday, December 15, 2004
in the Caloosa Belle News
The Hendry Community Traffic Safety Team conducted another informal seatbelt survey on December 2 at the intersection of S.R. 80 and Main Street in LaBelle. The results have improved since last year: the percentage of usage is now at 53 percent vs. 48 percent.
Remember that the national average for seatbelt usage is 70 percent. There are states that have Primary Seatbelt Laws and their average is above that, at 80 percent. (Florida is not a primary seatbelt state).
The push is on to have the community wear seatbelts to save their lives. According to the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP), this year troopers worked 19 fatal crashes in Hendry County, as of early December, with a total of 21 dead. The final count is not yet in. Last year a total of 13 people lost their lives on Hendry County roads.
The second survey that the team performed was with the aid of Hendry County Sheriff's Office and the Florida Highway Patrol. Speed appears to be an ongoing problem on S.R. 80 entering from the west side of the town, near the entrance to Aqua Isles. Out of the 300 vehicles observed, 56 percent were traveling over the posted speed limit of 45 miles per hour. Observing an additional 100 vehicles exiting the town (traveling from east to west) at this same intersection, 21 percent of those vehicles were over the posted speed as well.
There is a new FHP patrolman assigned to Hendry County who will be monitoring and proactively enforcing the traffic laws in our community. The Traffic Safety Team welcomes any assistance to make this area a safer place to live. Lt. James F. Potter, this area's District Shift Commander stated, "FHP has been conducting and will continue to conduct selective enforcement details in locations that have been identified as problem areas."
Lt. Potter also strongly advocates that you should not drink alcoholic beverages and drive. The Florida Highway Patrol reminds everyone to always wear your seatbelt ands use child restrains properly. Slow down and use great care when operating your motor vehicles on the roadways in our state.