Published on Wednesday, May 30, 2007
in the Melbourne Florida Today

Florida holiday traffic fatality toll: 35

Thirty-five people -- including one motorist in Brevard County -- were killed in crashes investigated by Florida Highway Patrol troopers over the Memorial Day holiday driving period, which began on Friday,and ended on Monday, according to a report issued by FHP.

During this period, troopers charged 145 people with driving under the influence; issued 7,128 speeding citations; and assisted 2,786 motorists on Florida’s highways.

During the All-American Buckle-up Week -- May 21 through May 28, FHP troopers cited 4,401 people for not wearing seat belts, and issued citations to 126 motorists for not securing children in safety seats.

The Florida Highway Patrol again participated in Operation C.A.R.E. (Combined Accident Reduction Effort), a national program aimed at reducing the number of traffic crashes on interstate highways during holiday periods. During the official Memorial Day holiday driving period, the Florida Highway Patrol investigated 857 collisions. Of those, 50 were classified as alcohol-related.

The following numbers provided are preliminary and cover only those crashes investigated by the Florida Highway Patrol.

• 35 deaths occurred in 29 separate traffic crashes.
• 12 fatalities (or 34%) occurred during the hours of darkness.
• 2 of the fatal traffic crashes (or 7%) were known to be alcohol-related; 12 (or 41%) remain listed as unknown; 15 (or 52%) are presently classified as not alcohol-related.
• Of the 35 deaths, 3 (or 9%) were pedestrians; 8 (or 23%) were motorcyclists; and 1 (or 3%) was a bicyclist.
• 5 of the motorcyclists (or 62 %) were known to be wearing helmets.
• 65% of those killed in vehicles normally equipped with safety belts were not wearing their belts.