Traffic crashes are up in Titusville, and police are increasing patrols in some areas to where speeding is a problem.
- Titusville police seeing increase in traffic crashes
- Police attribute increase to population growth
- City is boosting traffic patrols in problem areas
Gino Hudson has been helping to renovate his friend’s new home in Titusville. The house sits directly next to Main Street and Park Avenue and he’s seen a problem with speeding.
“You get a lot of cars backed up bumper to bumper. They’re just in a big hurry, they’re just going too fast,” Hudson said.
Several neighbors also voiced their concern back on March 20 after a multi-vehicle accident at that intersection sent one man to the hospital. They say they have reached out to police.
“We have gotten some concern from residents on that area, so we are concentrating on extra enforcement, especially with the increasing crash rates in that area,” said Deputy Chief Todd Hutchinson with Titusville Police.
Titusville Police Department officials said in 2016 they had five accidents at that intersection. So far this year they’ve had two.
“Traffic crashes are up slightly city wide," Hutchinson said. "We believe it all comes with the growth we are seeing in the city. There is more traffic out there so we are obviously going to see more crashes.”
So far this year Cheney Highway has seen the most crashes within city limits, six at the intersection of State Road 405 and also six at the intersection of Alpine Lane.
Titusville Police hope to continue its enforcement and education on traffic safety, boosting patrols in areas like Main Street and Park Avenue.
“It’s got to be up to the people who are driving through these neighborhoods,” Hudson said. “They have to take it more serious. It's not a right to drive, it’s a privilege to drive, and that can be taken away from you.”
Police said they encourage input from the community. They say it does help them crack down on problem speeding areas in the city.