[Nfbf-l] "State Targets Pedestrian Safety" from the Tampa Tribune, April 28, 2010

[Dan Hicks]

I would like to think that our efforts in Washington and in Tallahassee
might have had some small influence on the endeavors being funded in the
article, below. 

 

Dan

 

 

State Targets Pedestrian Safety

 

By JOSH POLTILOVE

 

jpoltilove at tampatrib.com 

 

Published: April 26, 2010

 

Updated: 04/26/2010 12:22 am

 

TAMPA - Ten local law enforcement agencies will receive part of a $430,000
grant to boost pedestrian safety.

 

The money will pay for overtime for officers.

 

The Tampa Police Department and Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office each
will receive $100,000. The Clearwater, St. Petersburg and Largo police
departments each will get $50,000.

 

The Florida Highway Patrol, Pinellas County Sheriff's Office and Pinellas
Park Police Department each will receive $20,000.

 

The Pasco County Sheriff's Office and New Port Richey Police Department will
each get $10,000.

 

The Tampa Bay area received the grant because it far exceeds the national
average for pedestrian fatalities, said Jeanette Rouse, a program manager
for the state Department of Transportation.

 

>From 2003 through 2007, statistics show that Florida averaged about three
pedestrian crash deaths per 100,000 people - roughly twice the national
average, Rouse said.

 

The Transportation Department is distributing the grant money based on where
most pedestrian fatalities occurred.

 

The law enforcement agencies may have different focuses for their money. For
example, Rouse believes state troopers will look at motorists' behavior, and
New Port Richey police will spotlight pedestrian issues on U.S. 19.

 

The Tampa Bay area is one of four areas to receive a grant this year from
the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The others are Chicago,
Charlotte, N.C., and New Mexico.

 

Reporter Josh Poltilove can be reached at (813) 259-7691.

 

This article can be found at:

 

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2010/apr/26/260022/na-state-targets-pedestrian-s
afety/