BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — Drivers on A1A in Satellite Beach are saying FDOT's crosswalk improvements are going to take a lot of getting used to.
- Controversy over new crosswalks on A1A on Satellite Beach
- Residents say crosswalks cause safety hazard
- Drivers not used to stopping when there's no light
Balsa Bill says his business is on the beach side of A1A on Satellite Beach, and for almost 19 years it's been crosswalk free, until recently. He says the 45 mph speed limit is too fast to have crosswalks right in front of his surf shop.
“Speed limit is too fast to have them, you don't have enough time to stop,” Bill said.
According to data from BPTAC, from 2013-2017, 67 pedestrians died and 543 were injured, and 19 bicyclists died and 409 bikers were injured. Also, 70 percent of the crashes happened during the day, 78 percent in clear weather, and only 7 percent on wet roads.
Dan Vallette says these mid-block crossings are dangerous. The median island doesn't give drivers enough distance for turning or stopping. He knows first hand because he has been rear-ended before which caused a few hundred dollars worth of damage.
“You're hoping that everyone is paying attention since you're not at a stop light. It can create problems that people are running into each other,” Vallette said.
According to FDOT, when people and bicyclists are using the rectangular rapid flashing beacon or RRFB, after activating the signal the lights will begin to flash and drivers stop behind the line until the crosswalk is all clear. But as Vallete explains, it's the mid-block crossing he's most worried about. Most people are not used to stopping when there is not a traffic light.
“People have either lived here for all their life or are snowbirds in the community and nobody's used to it and what's scary is that it interrupts the traffic flow,” Vallette explained.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, RRFBs are a lower cost alternative to traffic signals, reduce people getting hit by cars, and cost approximately $15,000 for two units one on either side of a street. However, Bill says this stretch of road doesn't need them, he says FDOT is trying to fix a problem that was never there.
Six flashing beacons will be put by the end of March, and 12 more are going up in August, according to FDOT. In total there will be 18 rectangular rapid flashing beacon pedestrian crossing in 6. 2 miles.
FDOT reported in education for pedestrian safety in their 2018/2019 Alert Today Alive Tomorrow campaign that they've spent about $110,739.