Published on Monday, March 6, 2006
in the Melbourne Florida Today

Fla. traffic deaths hit record high

A record number of traffic fatalities occurred in Florida during 2005, according the preliminary figures from the state Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.

Though traffic deaths increased in Brevard County, fewer fatalities were reported along Interstate 95 in the county.

There were 3,515 traffic deaths last year in Florida, an increase of 258 over 2004, according the department's preliminary figures. The previous record was set in 2004 with 3,257 fatalities.

In Brevard County, 96 traffic deaths were reported in 2005, significantly more than the 80 deaths reported in 2004 but below the 113 deaths recorded in 2002.

On Interstate 95, 26 people died in 20 fatal crashes in 2005. Thirty-four people died in 27 fatal crashes in 2004.

"In the last couple of years, we've been targeting very aggressively certain areas of the interstate," said Sgt. Channing Taylor of the Florida Highway Patrol's Troop D.

Taylor said fatalities had increased on U.S. 1 in 2005.

State troopers, Brevard County Sheriff's deputies and local police departments have increased patrols in an effort called, "I-95 Alive." The officers have issued thousands of speeding citations.

"The ultimate answer is a better and safer roadway," said Brevard County Sheriff Jack Parker, one of the county officials who has pushed for widening I-95 and installing guardrails in the medians.

The widening project could begin as early as next year, said Parker.

As of Tuesday, the statewide death toll from traffic deaths for 2006 was 486. That is down from 538 for the same period last year.

In Brevard County, 7 deaths have been reported so far in 2006. The death toll was 17 for the same period in 2005.

While Florida's highways have become more crowded, one measure of safety has shown improvement. The number of deaths per 100 million miles traveled fell to 1.66 in 2004 from 1.71 in 2003 and from 2.23 in 1995.