A different take on this problem…
 

One thing I noticed after reading the articles about Florida’s unsafe roadways were photos of pedestrians/bike riders RIDING through crosswalks. I learned as a youngster you never ride through a crosswalk, instead you get off your bike, scooter, whatever, and walk through the crosswalk. Maybe educating pedestrians might be a good place to start to save lives.

Our experience is vastly different than yours. We frequently travel from 44 up 301 to the 466 area, and beyond. I honestly think that we see at least 1 police car every trip- we often see as many as 3-4. These are Wildwood, Sumter Sheriffs, and occasionally State Police. We don't travel the larger highways so I have no idea about those.

Huh. 4th largest state and 3rd in traffic fatalities. I understand Alaska doesn't have a lot of roadway. I'm guessing Rhode Island is way down the list, like upper 40's? Proportional to state size, makes sense.

If people would just drive the speed limit and obey the signs!

Why?
Who cares.

I have seen a few police cars in The Villages, but I DON'T think there are ENOUGH of them for the combination of high priced items that would be in the average Villager's home and the fact that older retired Villagers would seem to be an easy mark. Also, often the house is vacant in the summer or because Villagers take cruises and travel often.
.........I have had valuable tools taken while away and the Police never were able to recover them.
.........Also, I believe that more people are speeding after Covid than before. The roads were fairly open then and people got used to driving way over any speed limits.

The original poster was talking about the Daily Sun article about the very high death rate of pedestrians in Florida. Over 800 pedestrians have been killed this past year. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Governors Highway Safety Association show a state by state comparison of all 50 states. They show that in 2023 Florida ranked #2 out of all 50 states in pedestrian deaths per 100,000 people. (Only New Mexico was higher) In 2022 Florida was the #4 worst state for pedestrian deaths. (Only New Mexico, Arizona, and Louisiana were higher in 2022) Florida is getting more dangerous every year for pedestrians. The Daily Sun article is right on target. Besides more policing, the state needs to look at ways to make roads safer for people to cross.

Orlando
 

Orlando is one of the leading cities for pedestrian hits snd deaths by vehicles. Reason; city was built first for cars (post WWIi) and not for pedestrians.

Too many pedestrians just walk out wherever they desire which is a big part of the problem. Use crosswalks, pay attention two looking both ways, don’t assume that drivers see you.

I would gladly pay more taxes for better Policing. My house was robbed of about $5,000 in tools. I bet that I am NOT the only one that feels that way. I would rather pay for better roads and Policing rather than pay for all the flowers on the roads and intersections.

To me, that is just good social evolution. I liked the idea of speed sensors and cameras on traffic lights. Drones with cameras that could catch speeders and drunk drivers would be great with me.

Funny, I have seen posts here where someone has gotten a ticket, and then complained how over zealous the police were. Now they want more police to give out tickets.... how ironic.

police state
 

It is way closer than you think.

I rarely walk on the street. There are circle tracks made specifically for jogging or walking. Also some have exercise machines available. And there are specific areas to walk dogs. There should be very little need for most people to walk on streets, especially busy ones.

I second that emotion. And the ideas involved.

Yes, that idea had some value. And Police don't like to go to domestic disputes.

That is a thought that i had right away.

Oh I feel so defensive for the police. Overworked and underpaid and certainly underappreciated. They probably have been called out for a shooting...there is a new one every day and usually you can predict it will be a young man who has shot another young man....but they still are called for things like that..........not to mention the folks who get all liquored up or drugged up and beat up on each other...they ring for the law. Then of course there are the folks stealing things that others have worked hard for....they would be danged annoyed if a nice patrolman didn't show up to see what and who done it. I am a bit prejudiced....I am very old and was raised by an officer of the law who had more times then to give out speeding tickets. I will always defend our ladies and gentleman who protect and serve us. Sorry......I understand that your fears are justified but it is more the situation the world is in rather than someone NOT doing their job. I don't know anymore what is wrong with so many people.

The money from tickets DOES NOT GO TO THE POLICE STATIONS THAT ISSUED THEM.

I see lots of Sherrif's cars in TV all the time.

Your taxes don't pay for flowers...

Yesterday, I saw a sheriff's car lurking in the bushes on Morse south of Stillwater. I was probably speeding, but nothing happened. Later, while returning southbound the officer had pulled someone over NB. I don't ever recall seeing any officers patrolling on Morse in the eight years we've lived in TV.

I agree with Bill. (side note -I am also from Victor)
I know many police officers and road patrol is not why they went into their field.
While I don't believe we need 800 police on traffic ticket duty, I am all for police available to address crime. We left upstate NY after 59 years due to the crime and politics.

My review of the news is that the police are out addressing many crimes even petty crimes involving drunks, domestics or brawls. The tough stance on these issues is what helps to prevent criminals from escalating to more serious crime. The courts and prosecutors also deserve credit for following through and supporting the police. The tough on crime approach in TV is one of the many reasons TV is fabulous. Spend a week in NY, and you will likely be thankful for TV. It is all relative.

I am sorry to hear you have to travel outside of the bubble. I do hope you stay safe.

Where Are the Police?
 

I frequently drive I-75 to Tampa. I see the police in the median and patroling. They usually have people pulled over. They are normally near the Webster exit and several exits between 470 and Wesley Chapel. I’m usually traveling between 9 am and 6 pm.

Us too since we live in DeLuna, which has a 301 gate. We see lots of police presence along 301 traveling north, and have even seen a few hidden along the main road (Marsh Bend Trail) through our village watching for speeders. We are very satisfied with the amount of police presence we see here regularly.

We need more musicians.


https://youtu.be/ZkaNisbzsLY?si=U2cK6mJcz6QsY3Ex

And who is going to go hands on with a wacko or a domestic abuse offender.” ? BLM literally wants to get rid of the Police.

It only makes sense that Florida would have high pedestrian deaths, because of all the older people driving and even walking. Older people driving have slower reflexes and worse vision than younger people. They probably get distracted easier than younger people.
.........There are 2 situations that I find strange. One is about older drivers. Speeding ? Why are so many older drivers in such a hurry. They SHOULD have more time available now that they are not working, so they SHOULD be taking their time and NOT pushing over the speed limits. Maybe during Covid the roads were less crowded and drivers got used to having the roads to themselves and they raised their speed.
............The 2nd situation involves clothing COLORS. For some reason unknown to myself, BLACK clothing has become popular and STAYED popular for many years. I see both young and old people riding BLACK bicycles while wearing all BLACK clothing. Older drivers have trouble seeing those dark bicycle riders at night or even in the shadows during the day. The same thing goes for pedestrians wearing dark colors. Anytime I am riding a bike I make sure that I have a bright yellow shirt or jacket on.

Maybe not in your neck of the woods. Orlando and other big cities full of them. IMO junkies would include alcoholic’s, same dependent on fix as any cost.

You are so right as usual. A person very active in the medical community here once shared with me that he finds himself frequently saddened and sometimes frustrated with an awful lot of overdrinking in The Villages. There is nothing more annoying than a reformed anything but mark me down as a reformed overdrinker. No matter how much I drank, I was never any good at it. We are so quick to criticize the good guys sometimes and no, I know they all aren't perfect, but it is a tough job and no amount of money can compensate the police for the risks they take on our behalf. I am, as I have said many times, very appreciative and grateful. It makes me SO annoyed, when I am driving a cart on the cartpath and trying to stay BACK from folks on a bicycle, only to be passed by either a newby, a renter or a snowbird, who will zoom up and tailgate them through the narrow places. I do say a few words under my breath.........Helene is usually sitting right next to me. I will look at her and she will look at me and we are just grateful to have a cart, a cartpath, and lovely places to go.

Sorry, the last thing we need is more Big Brother intrusion into our lives.

Not saying traffic issues are not a problem, but the police should spend most of their time on actual criminals.

I have noticed “the police” are usually County Deputies. It is rare to see a Florida State Trooper. If you travel through Georgia it won’t be long before you see radar and County Deputies pulling cars over and tickets being written. Every time you are on I75 in Georgia and you travel into a different county WATCH OUT! Of course, the real speedsters don’t slow down and will take the risk anyways. Be careful what you wish for. I’m not sure you want to turn Florida into another Georgia.

I think that there are PLENTY of crimes in The Villages. The media just avoids reporting them. I had my house broken into and about $5,000 worth of tools stolen. That was about 5 years ago. I am sure that there are parts of NY or any other state where there is MUCH GREATER crime than in The Villages. An older upscale population like in The Villages is LESS likely to go around robbing and murdering EACH OTHER. However the younger workers on the crews of construction and lawn maintenance would likely to be tempted when they see a home where the residents are absent on a cruise or other travel.
............Also the gates at The Villages are providing almost ZERO security. Like a lot of things in The Villages, they are just for SHOW.
............Where I live, every day I see both full sized vehicles and golf carts going by my house at 40 MPH where the speed limit is marked at 20 MPH. Daily I see both golf carts and larger vehicles barely slowing down for stop signs. So, I can say for a fact that there is NOT enough Police presence and ticketing going on to prevent wholesale speeding around my neighborhood. So, I would draw the conclusion that since the police are NOT preventing speeding and going through stop signs, that they are INCAPABLE of preventing more serious crime.
..........Also there is a known excess of DRUNKEN DRIVING here in The Villages.

In an elite community like this the Police should be able to stop "actual" criminals AND the small time criminal driving misdemeanors. And the drunken driving.

I would PREFER to live in the SAFER state. Which one is better say based on traffic fatalities per 100,000 miles.

The death per 100,000 people in Florida is 16. Georgia is about the same at 16.5, NY is 6, Pa is 9, Ohio is 11, Oklahoma is 18, Wyoming is 23

Money Spent on Other Less Important
 

We would have more police in Wildwood, but our city commissioners thought we needed to spend 6.6 million for a parking garage with 126 spaces. I mean which is more important: the 50,000 dollar per slot parking garage or public safety?

Ohhh, sure. And in their spare time they'll cure cancer and eliminate the deficit.

Do you actually know how criminal justice works or is this like your third-hand experience with golf carts - you learned what you think you know from television?

Population of Florida is 21+Million vs Georgia 10+Million. (Google) Florida has many more tourists and many of them are trying to find their way around.

Many people have their phones connected to the audio of their cars. That way they can tell their wife that they're TRYING to get to the hospital to watch the birth of their child, but they're stuck in traffic. Or they can tell their child that they're on their way to pick them up at school but are stuck in traffic, and to just stay put. Or they can tell their spouse that yes - they'll stop at the store on the way home and pick up a quart of milk. Or tell the doctor that no, you didn't remember you had an appointment 10 minutes ago but you're turning around and will be there in 5.

There's also the matter of GPS programs that are apps on your cell phone. No phone = no GPS.