Driving a vehicle above the set speed limit allowed for a particular street or neighborhood is always a dangerous risk. The risk is not only to the driver but also to others in his/her path. You can never tell when a child at play or someone’s pet may dart out in front of your vehicle without looking. Are people in that much of a hurry? Is there really a need for speed? — Not while driving.
Is speeding, to get to their destination just a tad earlier (maybe), really worth all the potential grief that could come from a speeding ticket, injuring someone, or plowing into someone’s home? It surely wasn’t for a recent grad-to-be on Saturday, May 20, in Lakeland, Florida.
Teen Was Speeding And Lost Control
A 19-year-old driver lost control of his SUV, hit a fence, and went airborne into the bedroom of a mobile home Saturday, May 20. According to BayNews9.com, he told the fireman who responded that he had been speeding and lost control of his vehicle. According to a neighbor, who had been badly shaken believing the vehicle was going to careen into her mobile home instead, the young man wasn’t concerned about any potential injuries he might have suffered; he was worried for anyone in the mobile home that he hit. Fortunately, no one was home at the time of the crash. The distraught young man told the neighbor that he was to graduate this year.
Speed Busters
Last year, News Channel 8 reported that a former St. Petersburg police officer was very concerned about speeding along 9th Avenue North. Leslee Lacey of Speed Busters was called in to help. This area is said to have had a high incidence of speeding for almost three decades. On 9th Avenue North, the speed limit is 35 mph and radar guns have captured almost double that speed on many separate occasions. In one six-month period in 2016, the Saint Petersburg Police Department issued 44 speeding tickets between 41st and 49th Streets.
30 Miles Over the Speed Limit
In Florida, penalties for exceeding 30 miles over the posted speed limit can result in an offense of reckless driving, which can result in a fine of $400 or more. No “breaks” are generally given for offenders driving 30 mph above the posted speed limit. This level of severity calls for a mandatory court appearance, four points on your driving record, and even a possible suspension of your driver’s license. These penalties double, of course, if a driver is caught in a construction or school zone. Again, is it worth it?
Time for Another Speed Study?
The last speed study for the area between 41st and 49th streets was conducted in 2003, said Mike Frederick with the St. Petersburg’s Department of Traffic Engineering. Another study was said to be in the works in the near future. In the meantime, Ben Kirby of the City of Saint Petersburg was going to look at the possibility of having a “solar speed pole” installed on 9th Avenue.
“Your Speed” Signs
Signs drivers see that automatically tell them what speed they are driving can be helpful in speed awareness. Pole-mounted solar-powered signs have bright characters that are nine inches tall and can be read at a distance of 450 feet. A great many accidents occur every year due to drivers speeding in residential neighborhoods. If you or a loved one has been affected by someone else’s “need for speed,” contact a St. Petersburg personal injury attorney to learn what options you may have for justice in such an event.
Medical expenses, recovery time, and lost wages due to time off for such an accident can be costly. If you have been a victim of an accident involving a speeding vehicle, contact a Pinellas personal injury attorney to learn your rights.