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Published on Thursday, July 11, 2002
in the St. Pete Times
While the 2001 state average fell, Pasco's rate increased, and it now leads large counties in the number of deaths per vehicle mile.
The death rate on Pasco County's roads was higher last year than in any other large Florida county, according to data from the state Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.
Statewide, the fatality rate fell. Based on the way the agency calculated the rate -- deaths per vehicle miles traveled -- it fell 5.2 percent from the 2000 figures.
But Pasco's rate climbed. Across the state last year, there were two deaths per 100-million vehicle miles traveled. Pasco's rate increased to 4.3 from 3.4 in 2000.
Florida has 33 counties with more than 100,000 people, according to the most recent census. Of those counties, Pasco was the only one with a rate of more than 3.51.
Pasco also had the highest pedestrian fatality rate among counties with more than 100,000, according to the state agency.
Those figures stem from expanded calculations released to Wednesday to the St. Petersburg Times. While experts have struggled to explain the phenomenon, the numbers come as no surprise to Pasco law enforcement and traffic agencies, who were well aware last year of the climbing rate.
"We've had concerns about Pasco County," said spokeswoman Marian Pscion of the Department of Highway Safety.
She said the state had tried to bulk up a citizen/law enforcement group that meets to discuss traffic initiatives. She also cited plans to add lighting to much of U.S. 19.
More people than ever before died on Pasco's roads last year. Fatalities climbed to 102 from 81 in 2000. In 1996, 60 people died in Pasco accidents.
Through the first six months of this year, there were 54 fatalities in Pasco, the Florida Highway Patrol said.
The patrol has made changes. Pasco became a statewide testing ground this year. The patrol, which investigates nearly all of the county's deadly accidents, is determining whether more troopers would help make roads safer. The number of troopers in Pasco was increased to 37 from 23.
The state data released also showed that in 2001:
Alcohol was involved in a third of all Pasco traffic fatalities. That nearly matches the statewide rate. Although the number of fatal accidents in Pasco climbed, the number of alcohol-related fatalities fell to 34 from 38.
The number of motorcycle injuries fell in Pasco, but the number of motorcycle fatalities was up to five from three. That's less than in 1998 when there were six.