Here’s how to solve Tampa Bay’s pedestrian violence

Editor’s note: The Times recently published a column on how the Tampa Bay area is dangerous for pedestrians and what to do about it. The reader response was robust, measured by the number of letters to the editor. Below are some of those letters. You can read the column by clicking here.

Too many deaths

The number of pedestrian deaths in Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties is truly appalling – about 500 in the past five years. Concerned citizens should support all the measures recommended in the recent Tampa Bay Times column. I also suggest adding a unit to the state’s high school curriculum explaining the law regarding pedestrian rights and the importance of observing speed limits and no phone use while driving.

J. Robert Ross, St. Petersburg

Yes to speed cameras

I can’t think of a single rational argument against speed cameras, despite the inevitable bawling of libertarians, sovereign citizens and habitual procrastinators. We can put our Legislature in the doctor’s examination room of every present and future pregnant woman in the state, but we can’t pay attention to what every driver in the state is doing when they break the law?

Our traffic laws and licensing requirements are certainly intended for every driver in the state. We’ve got to get away from this idea of “The Code of the West” where if the bandits getaway, well, that’s just so romantic. Ask these maimed people in the Times column if they think it’s “romantic.”

The penalties for street racers should be draconian, but we keep reading of individuals being released over and over again. It’s nuts. Let them never drive again, and if they’re caught, they deserve a dire term of incarceration. It’s complicated with many variables and layers of “responsibility,” but it can be done.

Steve Douglas, St. Petersburg

De-normalize violence

Thank you for drawing attention to the current epidemic of traffic violence in the Tampa Bay area. One tragic aspect of this epidemic is that we have normalized it. It is not okay that so many people have been taken from their families and loved ones. It is not OK that children cannot walk safely to school or to a friend’s house. Let’s de-normalize this carnage. Let’s choose safety over vehicle speeds.

Max McCann, St. Petersburg

Change the culture

“I never thought I’d be hit by a car.”

Those words from a Tampa resident in the Times’ recent pedestrian safety column echo what so many of us feel — until the moment we witness it, or, heartbreakingly, until it’s someone we know or love.

I’ve lived in Florida for over 25 years now, and I can tell you that pedestrian accidents have never been rare. In fact, the phrase “pedestrian struck” has become so routine on the TV news it’s almost background noise. But it’s not just a random string of unfortunate events — it’s the direct result of rapid, unbalanced growth, a broken traffic culture, and too many people living in too many different worlds. Let’s be honest: our roads aren’t just chaotic — they’re overwhelmed. Florida’s population has exploded, encouraged by policies pushing to bring over a million more residents in just the past few years.

And with that, we’ve paved over wetlands, farms and natural habitats to make room for more cars, drivers and danger. On any given day, we’re sharing the road with tourists, overworked commuters, delivery drivers racing the clock, folks impaired by drugs — whether from smoke shops or prescriptions — and others glued to their phones. There’s no single villain. It’s a system built on haste and distraction. And while infrastructure needs fixing — roundabouts, speed cameras, road diets — the real fix starts with us. We need to slow down, not just with our speedometers but with our awareness.

We need to remember that a crosswalk isn’t just a suggestion and a speed limit isn’t a challenge to beat. It’s a boundary designed to save lives — often fragile, unsuspecting ones including you.

We don’t need more tragedy to bring about change. We need awareness, accountability, and care.

Lisa Bekiaris, Hudson

Better transit

If we had a train system instead of buses that only contribute to traffic jams, there would be fewer pedestrian deaths. Tampa Bay is the most brain-dead region in the country regarding mass transportation.

Harriet Browder, Sun City Center

More warning lights

The column about pedestrian accidents and deaths was thorough, educational and thought-provoking. I live in Sun City Center, where residents are older than 55. Unfortunately, our community sees many traffic crashes, mostly between golf cart drivers and motor vehicles. However, the problem is the same here as it is with pedestrians in other areas of Tampa Bay. People drive too fast for road conditions and available light.

I’ve found that crosswalks with flashing yellow lights help grab a driver’s attention far better than a mere stationary street sign. Spend some of the speeding ticket money on updating crosswalks with automated flashing warning lights. An extensive set of flashing red lights would probably work even better.

John Perian, Sun City Center

Step up enforcement

Kudos to the Times for its comprehensive report on traffic violence in the Tampa Bay region. It captured the problem in detail and offered solutions that could save hundreds of lives, not only of those who die but of those, like me, whose lives are forever changed due to a dangerous driver, who, in my case, suffered no consequences, save a traffic ticket.

Despite the challenges, changing the culture can begin with our elected officials and police enforcing the current laws. They need to stop finding excuses to let dangerous drivers off the hook.

Last year, Owen Gardner Whittaker was driving nearly 30 mph over the speed limit when he ran a red light and killed two people, a pedestrian and a cyclist. Police, to their credit, recommended a charge of vehicular homicide. But our state attorney declined to press charges and even chastised the police for charging him.

“My assessment was, it’s a tragic incident where two people got killed, but it was an accident,” said Pinellas-Pasco State Attorney Bruce Bartlett. “There was some excessive speed, over the speed limit, but no more than most people drive down the road.”

It wasn’t an accident; it resulted from willful, dangerous driving. Drivers should not be given license to disobey the law, as if “most people” drive nearly 30 mph over the speed limit and run red lights.

My case, where I was rear-ended while riding my bike, illustrates a problem with policing traffic violence. I had a rear-facing camera on my bike that recorded the crash. Within a week, my wife delivered a video of the incident to the St. Pete Police. Yet, nearly three months later, the officer’s final report stated that I “swerved to the middle of the lane,” which the video disproves. The officer never spoke with me and cited no witnesses to the crash. How did he come to that wrong conclusion? The driver’s word?

As the Times pointed out, there is much we can do, but let’s start by using the tools we have to curb unsafe driving, including speed and red-light cameras, and holding people accountable when their dangerous driving costs people their lives.

Bob Griendling, St. Petersburg

Tips for pedestrians

This is a great column with lots of detail and ideas. Typical excellent reporting from the Times. This column, though, put all the onus on drivers, but pedestrians are also part of the problem. There are things pedestrians can do:

1. Educate pedestrians to wait until cars stop at the crosswalk. Many of the signs in St. Pete encourage that. How many pedestrians follow that advice?

2. Years ago, a program encouraged people to “wear white at night or carry a light.” Now, it’s quite fashionable to wear dark clothing, which compounds the problem.

3. Many pedestrians walk or jog in the streets instead of using sidewalks. That puts them closer to vehicles.

4. Cyclists are part of the problem as well. Some don’t obey the traffic laws.

Park Chapman, St. Petersburg

Not just drivers

The column devotes one small paragraph to pedestrian responsibility. It is stunning how many pedestrians will walk out into the middle of the street without looking either way to see if traffic is stopping for them. Most of the time, their faces are buried in their phones. Do they deserve to die? Certainly not. But they are clearly not cut out for urban life. Why do you think there are fewer New Yorkers who die? They know how to walk.

Lance Lubin, St. Petersburg

Road supremacy

The column was timely and well done, but the writers were too kind. Too many Americans ride in their vehicles with a sense the road is theirs alone. Call it road supremacy. Many drivers are indifferent to others using the same roads. What civilized person doesn’t know to stop for those in crosswalks?

James Gillespie, St. Petersburg

Angry drivers

Thank you for this wonderful column. As a pedestrian, I can attest that many St. Petersburg drivers do not know that pedestrians have the right of way. I’ve learned to look long and hard before crossing. One time, I was halfway across the street when the car turning into my lane called me everything but a child of God — and the walk sign was still showing the countdown to allow me to cross!

Teri Galvin, Kenneth City

Education and more education

I suggest not only educating drivers and installing more safety precautions but also educating pedestrians. Don’t just assume when the sign says walk that every driver is going to stop in time. Look both ways. Didn’t every mother instill that at some point?

Many of these crashes could be avoided if pedestrians also practiced more caution.

I see it all the time — people just jump off the curb as soon as the sign says walk. I also see kids not being held by the hand while walking near traffic. Common sense on both sides will go a long way.

Julie Magill, Tampa

Stay alert, stay alive

The column about the alarming number of pedestrian deaths in Tampa Bay was spot on. It’s a tragedy that so many lives are lost on our streets, and I believe there are several areas where we need to take more responsibility.

First, parents play a critical role in shaping how their children perceive driving and safety. Video games like Grand Theft Auto may seem harmless. but they often glorify reckless driving and criminal behavior. As these kids get their driver’s licenses — often paired with fast, new cars gifted by their parents — they may not fully grasp the real-life consequences of dangerous driving.

Pedestrians also share responsibility for their own safety. Many walk around with earbuds, eyes glued to their phones, completely unaware of their surroundings. While pedestrians do have the right of way, it’s not always the driver’s fault when someone steps into traffic without looking.

Lastly, I strongly believe in the power of public service announcements. Tampa Bay should be broadcasting clear messages: pedestrians must stay alert, and safety cameras are in place to protect both walkers and drivers. These reminders should be shown on TV, inside the tram cars at Tampa International Airport, and posted at car rental counters and auto dealerships. The message is simple: Stay alert. Stay alive.

Mark Khan, Tampa

Enforce the laws

I have lived in Illinois, Georgia and Florida. What I have observed here in Florida is a glaring lack of enforcement. I knew people in Illinois and Georgia who got tickets for going 2 mph over the speed limit, not signaling a lane change or a turn, having windows tinted too dark, and other infractions. I think a lack of traffic enforcement is a major factor in poor pedestrian safety.

Dave Hinz, Clearwater

The will to act

The column had many good ideas. What we don’t have is the politicians with the courage to act. They are all focused on tax cuts because they feel that’s where their future employment lies.

Barry Kreiling, Brooksville

We can do it

The recent column by Graham Brink and Jim Verhulst on the tragic number of pedestrian deaths in the Tampa Bay area is a much-needed piece. It clearly outlines steps that could help reduce these senseless fatalities. While I agree with every point, my primary concern is this: Enforce the law.

I regularly drive just 5 mph over the limit; without fail, other drivers blow past me like I’m standing still. We often end up at the same red traffic light, where I also witness, without exception, at least two drivers run it. Every. Single. Time.

David Burg, Tampa

Other places are safer

I’ve lived in the Tampa Bay area for decades and don’t want to be overly critical of drivers in this region. However, when visiting my small hometown in New England, I have to literally put the brakes on. Fellow drivers constantly slow down to let others pass, always with a friendly wave and nod. A reciprocal wave is protocol. It takes some getting used to, for sure. Unfortunately, I don’t see this behavioral change coming anytime soon in the Tampa Bay region.

William Falcone, Brandon

Playing Frogger

When I travel U.S. 19 to pick up my granddaughter, it is like playing the video game Frogger. Pedestrians and cyclists jump out from behind cars, often just 20 to 30 feet from a traffic light with a crosswalk where they could cross more safely. I consider myself to be a defensive driver. If I weren’t, I could take out three or four people a day. I do not disagree that there are a lot of distracted drivers out there, but it is not always the driver’s fault.

Bruce Campbell, Pinellas Park

No easy solution

The column about dangerous traffic conditions for drivers and pedestrians has no easy solution as the solution is human nature. People race to get through a traffic light, sometimes hardly noticing it’s been red for several seconds. People jut between cars and ignore crosswalks; sometimes, they “gesture” their feelings about having to stop to wait for traffic. Oftentimes, they’re focused on the phone in their hand, either on a call or listening to music through their headphones. Additionally, it’s virtually impossible to see a pedestrian at night wearing dark clothes walking in an unlit or dimly lit roadway.

Red-light runners cause havoc at intersections, sometimes also damage, and sadly, sometimes death to others or themselves. I’ve seen police ignoring a red light runner. The runner escapes any accountability.

Until politicians personally suffer the consequences of these road hazards, little will change. People will be people.

Debi Ford, St. Petersburg

Better crosswalk signals

Instead of crosswalks having yellow flashing lights, I agree with the columnists that red lights would be better. Yellow lights seem to serve as a suggestion or at worst, an invitation to speed through the crosswalk areas.

I was walking my bike in a crosswalk in Safety Harbor after activating the flashing yellow lights and drivers in both directions stopped. As I got to the middle of the crosswalk, a driver behind one of the stopped vehicles decided to pass the car and speed through the crosswalk, nearly hitting me. Having cameras at the crosswalks that trigger citations to those drivers ignoring the activated lights will also deter violations.

Pat Bayers, New Port Richey

Nine solutions

Thank you for the excellent article on the dangers drivers pose to pedestrians in our state and region. A change of culture is absolutely needed. We desperately need our state, county and city officials to do the following:

1) Lower all speed limits by 5 mph.

2) Narrow driving lanes.

3) Put in protected bike lanes where feasible.

4) Put in speed cameras on all major roads (not just near schools).

5) Begin vigorous police enforcement to curtail aggressive driving and speeding.

6) Install “sound detection” equipment (similar to gunshot detectors in some cities) so police can detect when street racing is occurring.

7) Begin a billboard campaign with photos of maimed and killed pedestrians.

8) Require an official inquiry by prosecutors, Department of Transportation engineers, city planners and advocates for every pedestrian death and publicize and implement the recommendations that result from the inquiry.

9) Require all drivers to carry bodily injury liability insurance (not just property damage insurance).

If these ideas are followed, maybe we will see a decline in the carnage.

Ralph Fisher, Lutz

More driver testing

A cosmetologist in Florida must take continuing education to renew their license every two years. Real estate sales license renewals require continuing education, as do dozens of professionals and businesses. However, other than a vision check, a person may take only one driving test in their lifetime.

The insurance industry encourages older drivers to take courses on driving safely. Many carriers offer discounts for completing an AAA, AARP, or similar online driver safety course. In addition to updating some technology-related awareness, the courses remind drivers that driving means taking responsibility for yourself and those around you who may be less careful. In other words, preventing accidents before they happen.

Insurance companies will raise your rate and penalize people who have accidents. But why not extend the discounts to all ages who take a refresher course and reward good behavior?

Tony Leisner, Tarpon Springs

New York vs. Tampa Bay

I moved from South Tampa to Manhattan about two years ago. In Manhattan, if a destination is too far to walk, then you can take the subway for dirt cheap. The robust bus infrastructure will close the gap if the subway cannot reach the destination. Fewer cars being used equates to fewer pedestrian deaths.

I lived in Tampa for over a decade. I took the bus during my college days at the University of South Florida, and most recently, I visited my parents in St. Petersburg this year. The public transportation system in Tampa Bay pales compared to New York City.

I know New York City has its fair share of problems, but public transportation is not one. Rich or poor, tall or short, young or old — everyone walks and uses public transportation in Manhattan. And it works reliably. I haven’t driven a vehicle in two years.

Does Tampa Bay care about pedestrian deaths? Then let us all make a dedicated effort to fund public transportation, from expanding the trolley to a more robust bus system to a ferry that actually runs year-round.

Nathan Batts, New York City

Pedestrian deaths

Revamping roads and building roundabouts doesn’t address the underlying pedestrian safety problems. First, you need a robust driver’s education system before granting licenses.

Take a look at the rigorous licensing in New South Wales, Australia, or England. It would be both eye-opening and a road map for producing safe and courteous drivers.

I took driving lessons, earned licenses and drove extensively in both countries. The roads are equally as crowded as in Tampa, and people want to get to their destination as fast as possible, but driving is broadly considered a privilege, not a right.

Rigorous driver education is paramount to navigating the roads safely for both drivers and pedestrians. There will be bad drivers — that’s just part of human nature — but everyone will have a solid understanding of all the rules.

Oh yes, and you learn how to navigate roundabouts with ease! Used properly, they speed up traffic flow. Not only that, you learn how to courteously zipper merge, which helps alleviate those interminable delays on the highway when one lane is closed.

Jakki Garlans, Tampa

Lower speed limits

Traffic needs to slow down. Lower speed limits would reduce deaths and injuries. Lower fuel consumption and pollution would also be advantages. Slow down and protect lives and the planet.

Walter Badger, Stonewall, Manitoba