Made with Xara Web Designer Copyright May, 2009 - Amelia Island Association NASSAU COUNTY TRAFFIC SAFETY AIA ANALYSIS OF THE PROBLEM 5/26/09 Analysis of Florida State Highway Safety & Motor Vehicles Traffic Crash Data (www.flhsmv.gov) shows Nassau has a safety problem. 1. Nassau crashes up 44% compared to 5 % for Florida; injuries up 30 % compared to - 4% for Florida; and deaths up 93% compared to 1% for Florida (all data from 2003 to 2007). 2. Nassau 2007 death rate per capita is more than double Florida’s.      and Florida’s death rate per crash is almost double other states. 3. Nassau had more than 2 DUI traffic crashes per week and more than 2 Traffic deaths per month in 2007. 4. 51% of Nassau Traffic deaths were alcohol-related compared to 35% for Florida, in 2007.  Running a red light and speeding accounted for 72% of non-criminal traffic violations compared to 55% for Florida, in 2007. 5. Nassau County was 60^th of 67 counties in traffic deaths per capita in 2007 – with 1 being the least deaths per capita.  Nassau County was 63^rd of 67 counties in giving traffic citations in 2007 – with 1 being the most citations per capita. 6.  Nassau citations per capita were about half that of Florida and local officers gave only 59% of the total Nassau’s citations compared to 81% by local officers for all of Florida, in 2007. 7.  The state assigns only 1 to 2 State Police officers to Nassau and they implement about 40% of all the traffic citations given in Nassau County.   8.  Nassau County had 85 traffic deaths from 2003 to 2007 compared to 12 deaths from murder.  Nassau County has had an increasingly serious traffic safety problem that has resulted in more than double the traffic deaths per capita in 2007 compared to the average county in Florida. NASSAU COUNTY TRAFFIC SAFETY WHAT CAN BE DONE? WHAT IS AIA DOING? 1. On 5/13 we published a Viewpoint in the News Leader. 2. On 5/13 we presented this Traffic Safety Analysis to the BOCC, 3. On 5/13 we held a public meeting with a panel of public officials. 4. We have submitted a follow-up Viewpoint to the News Leader. 5. We have submitted a follow-up letter to the County Commission and Sheriff asking them to establish and support a goal to improve Nassau County traffic safety to the Florida average (based on a measure of deaths per capita). 6. AIA will update this Nassau County Safety Analysis annually. WHAT CAN GOVERNMENT DO? 1. Growth Planning:  State laws call for public safety to be protected and preserved through coordinated land-use and transportation planning.  The County needs to set a goal to reach Florida’s Traffic Safety Average (based on a measure of deaths per capita).  Implement Policies to achieve that goal, such as better access management plans for all our roads. 2. Traffic Safety Engineering:  The segment of A1A between Rt. 17 and Amelia Island is failed due to unacceptably high congestion.  The state plans to implement a synchronized signal system and review several intersections for possible safety improvements. 3. Traffic Law Enforcement:  The Sheriff needs to support the same traffic safety goal as above.  For example, increased traffic safety enforcement. 4. Education and Motivation:  Improve driving behaviors.  For example, annual teen education with positive motivation to increase safety belt usage and required education and negative motivation for serious repeat traffic offenders. WHAT CAN YOU DO? 1. Drive safer and be a defensive driver. 2. Help educate and motivate family and friends to drive safely. 3. Support the AIA Traffic Safety Goal, and let others know you do. 4. Consider joining AIA – go to www.ameliaislandassociation.com Phillip M. Scanlan, Director-Amelia Island Association Traffic Safety Analysis     Rank Order     Violation Spreadsheet