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Published on Tuesday, December 28, 2004
in the Bradenton Herald
MANATEE - With an average amount of traffic crashes, Manatee County motorists fared the three-day holiday weekend relatively well, officials at the Florida Highway Patrol reported Monday.
From Friday to Sunday, the area had 120 traffic crashes, according to FHP Lt. Doug Dodson. None of the crashes in Manatee resulted in fatalities, officials said.
Brisk winds and stormy weather deterred motorists from taking to the roads, according to Dodson.
"The weather contributed to keeping some people in, which helped," he said.
The Bradenton Police Department issued 45 citations, 12 written warnings and 15 verbal warnings throughout the weekend and into Monday. The agency investigated 10 crashes, according to Bradenton Police Maj. J.J. Lewis.
The Manatee County Sheriff's Office issued 133 traffic citations between Friday and Sunday. The number is a little below the average number of citations issued, according to sheriff's office spokesman Dave Bristow.
Twenty-four crashes caused 25 deaths throughout Florida during the three-day holiday, including at least one death in Sarasota County. Florida Highway Patrol officials tracked the holiday-related accidents between midnight Friday and midnight Sunday.
With New Year's travel right around the corner, the Florida Highway Patrol also plans on stepping up enforcement this weekend.
"We'll start putting people out the day before and the day after" the holiday, Dodson said. "We put as much emphasis on New Year's as we do on Christmas."
Gregg Laskoski, managing director of public and government relations for AAA Club South, said a potential for problems always exists whenever major roadways are congested.
The problem, however, is magnified during the holiday season, when fatigue or drinking tend to alter motorist reactions.
"We always want to convince people that they must be alert and sober," Laskoski said. "You have people who try to push themselves and drive all night long. A lot of times, the spirit is willing but their body isn't up to the task. When fatigue sets in, that driver can act as erratically as drivers who are intoxicated."
Thirteen traffic crashes resulted in 15 deaths on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day in Florida last year, Herald archives show. None of the crashes, however, occurred in Manatee or Sarasota counties.
Neither Laskoski or Florida Highway Patrol officials could say whether the numbers have increased or decreased from year to year.
"Even if the numbers are going up, it doesn't necessarily mean the roads are more dangerous" because the number of drivers has increased during the past few years, Laskoski said.
After the traffic deaths last year, authorities offered the following tips on holiday travel:
* Avoid driving late at night. Give yourself more time than normal before taking to the roads.
* Drive carefully and more defensively.
* Exercise more patience.
Laskoski also suggests motorists check the condition of their vehicles before taking to the road and that they make sure their cell phones are charged in case of emergency situations.
"We want to ring in New Year's the right way," Dodson said, "not with fatalities."
* Under AAA's Tow-To-Go program, anyone who needs a ride home from bars or restaurants this holiday season can call (800) AAA-HELP. The agency will dispatch a tow truck and take both the driver and the vehicle home free of charge.