- October 25, 2024
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In 2021, more than 36% of the 2,370 accidents in Flagler County in 2021 occurred as a motorist was entering an intersection, inside of an intersection or as they exited an intersection.
“The most likely place for an accident to take place in Flagler County is at the intersection of Old Kings Road and Palm Coast Parkway," FCSO Operation DRIVE Liaison and Special Operations Cmdr. Fred Gimbel said. "It will more than likely be a rear-end collision and take place between noon and 1 p.m. on a Thursday. ... We are hoping with the re-engineered intersection just completed this intersection will be safer in 2022.”
After a 37% decrease in traffic fatalities after last year's operation, there have already been five traffic fatalities in 2022, with four occurring in one day, Friday, Feb. 25. Analysis showed that it is likely that most, if not all, could have been avoided with at-fault drivers being more patient and using driving common sense, like not passing in restricted passing zones or poor visibility.
“We do our research,” Gimbel said. “The 2021 operation obviously had an impact and greatly reduced the number of fatalities on our roads. It only makes sense to always work hard to continue to find new ways to make our roadways safer for our citizens and visitors to Flagler County.”
After 27 people died on Flagler County roadways in 2020, the same agencies came together last year to help combat driving behaviors which led to the increase in THIs (Traffic Homicide Investigations). Thanks in part to Operation TIDES (Texting, Impaired, Distracted, Exhausted and Speeding), that number dropped to 17 in 2021. The joint effort focused on educating motorists, enforcing laws and engineering.
“Engineering involved things such as adding designated turning lanes, reducing speeds on certain roads and other traffic flow changes. All of which played a role in saving lives,” Gimbel stated. “With that kind of success, we are looking forward to getting this year’s operation underway.”
Starting this month, the FCSO, Florida Highway Patrol, Flagler Beach Police Department and the Bunnell Police Department will be working together as they launch Operation DRIVE (Distracted and Reckless Intersection Violation Enforcement). They will be coordinating enforcement efforts focusing on reducing distracted and reckless driving and crashes occurring at intersections.
