Gainesville was not alone in experiencing hit-and-run fatalities in 2020.
The Florida Division of Freeway Security and Motor Automobiles launched an consciousness marketing campaign on Monday aimed toward decreasing the variety of incidents in 2021 and past. There have been 254 in 2020, a rise of over 18% from the previous yr. Division information revealed pedestrians and bicyclists to be on the highest danger, making up practically 64% of those fatalities. The division discovered 85% of the incidents occurred throughout low-visibility hours comparable to nighttime, daybreak or nightfall.
The division’s prime objective is to get drivers to remain on the scene when a collision happens.
“While you flee the scene of a crash, you’re not solely breaking the regulation, you could possibly be leaving somebody who wants quick medical consideration,” the company’s Govt Director Terry L. Rhodes stated.
Florida regulation states {that a} driver should instantly cease on the scene of any crash that leads to property injury, damage or loss of life. If no vital damage or property injury is sustained, the drivers concerned should collect names, driver’s license, insurance coverage and tag info then file a report on-line. Drivers convicted of leaving the scene of an accident will likely be charged with a felony and have their licenses revoked for no less than three years. Moreover, offenders can face a minimal sentence of 4 years in jail.
“Leaving the scene of a site visitors crash is a severe offense,” Florida Freeway Patrol Director Colonel Gene S. Spaulding stated. “It’s your responsibility as a driver concerned in a crash to stay on the scene and supply help to different motorists, bicyclists, pedestrians or different events who’ve been injured or acquired property injury.”
Gainesville has not too long ago seen the impression of pedestrian fatalities when two College of Florida freshmen died from site visitors homicides throughout the previous two months. Maggie Paxton and Sophia Lambert have been each 18-year-old college students killed in crashes alongside West College Avenue. Paxton’s loss of life was a hit-and-run murder on Dec. 9. Gainesville police introduced on Friday the car concerned within the murder had been recognized by license plate recognition.
Paxton’s case stays an ongoing investigation and the GPD Site visitors Security Unit encourages anybody with further info to contact them at 352-393-7744 or [email protected].
Following these tragedies, neighborhood calls for for elevated pedestrian security efforts have centered on making site visitors security enhancements to West College Avenue, the big street bordering the College of Florida. Evidencing these calls for, petitions have emerged calling for elevated site visitors security for UF college students and pace bumps on College Avenue, with each kinds receiving over 15,000 signatures as of Monday.
Addressing the difficulty of site visitors security, Gainesville regulation enforcement officers beforehand cited efforts to extend enforcement of site visitors violations. Native regulation enforcement officers demonstrated a pedestrian security enforcement element Friday to boost consciousness of pedestrian security legal guidelines, such because the rule that motorists should yield to pedestrians on the street.
West College Avenue, nonetheless, is a state street, so town has restricted energy to instill long-term adjustments, comparable to putting in pace bumps or decreasing pace limits. Metropolis police officers and Mayor Lauren Poe have referred to as for collaboration from state leaders and the Florida Division of Transportation in bringing reforms to make Gainesville’s streets safer.
The Keep on the Scene marketing campaign is likely one of the first steps taken on the state degree following these and over 200 different incidents statewide. The Florida Division of Transportation additionally introduced Thursday that new signage could be put in close to College Avenue to remind motorists to cease for pedestrians.
The state can be asking the general public to submit info regarding open hit-and-run instances, a listing of which could be discovered on the division’s web site.
