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Published on Sunday, November 9, 2003
in the Orlando Sentinel (11-9-03)
The scene is all too common: an overturned 18-wheel tractor-trailer on Florida's Turnpike and cars backed up for miles. Angry motorists bang on their steering wheels in frustration while waiting for hours to move.
While major crashes along the turnpike are a constant threat, officials have unveiled a system designed to help clear the road faster. The Open Roads policy is aimed at clearing crashes from the road within 90 minutes of the arrival of the first responding officer.
There are several elements to the new program, but the bottom line for drivers is less stress and smoother sailing, authorities said.
"We realize that one of the most frustrating things that a person can do is sit in traffic," Florida Highway Patrol spokesman Lt. Pat Santangelo said. "It's a helpless feeling."
Since 1990, turnpike traffic has increased 200 percent, said Chris Warren, deputy director and chief operating officer of Florida's Turnpike Enterprise, the state agency that operates the turnpike. With that comes increased crashes and more traffic snags.
Turnpike crashes have more than doubled in the past seven years -- from 1,397 in 1996 to 2,937 last year -- the only years for which figures were available Friday, Warren said.
During that same period, 379 people died in 312 fatal turnpike crashes, he said.
The turnpike logs an average of 1.5 million toll transactions daily along its 450-mile stretch from Florida City, south of Miami, to Wildwood in north Central Florida.
About a year ago, authorities -- including turnpike officials and the highway patrol -- started looking at ways to make the turnpike safer and to clear major crashes more quickly, Warren said.
As part of the program, troopers have new computer equipment, which allows them to finish their investigations faster, and additional Road Rangers, who provide emergency roadside assistance, will be patrolling the roadway.
Beginning early next year, tow-truck operators will have an added incentive to move wrecks off the road within 90 minutes. Towing companies will get a bonus between $2,500 and $3,500 to move some larger wrecks off the turnpike within 90 minutes of getting permission from police.
"Traditionally, tow trucks get paid by the hour," Santangelo said. "So it doesn't really benefit them to clear the road quickly."