3BAGENllA ITEM #3B
OCTOBER 27, 2003
STAFF REPORT
City of Atlantic Beach
Commission Meeting
AGENDA ITEM: Speed Complaint on Ocean Boulevard
DATE: October 20, 2003
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SUBMITTED BY: David E. Thompson, Chief of Police/DPS
John Campbell, Deputy Chief of Police
BACKGROUND:
At the September 22, 2003 City Commission meeting, Mr. Bernard Kane stated that there
was a speeding problem in the 300 Block of Ocean Blvd., and he had circulated a petition
among his neighbors requesting more speed enforcement. He had submitted the petition to
Chief Thompson, but they had seen no improvement in speed enforcement. During his
remarks, Mr. Kane also referred to a previous study that was done relative to the speeding in
that area a few yeazs ago.
In response, the Police Departrnent reviewed previous speed information, researched the
traffic crash information, discussed the previous responses with a number of police officers,
and conducted an updated speed study. The focus of this reseazch was on Ocean Boulevard
between Ahern Street and 7`s Street.
In July of 2001, the Police Department conducted a speed study in the 400 block of Ocean
Boulevard. The computer equipment clocked vehicles for 51 consecutive hours, with a total
of 5,627 vehicles. The average speed was 27 MPH, and a maximum of 1.5% of the vehicles
were traveling at 35 MPH or above. Although any amount of speeding is "bad", 1.5% is not
considered to be a high incidence of speeding when compared to other roadways.
In October of 2003, the Police Department conducted another speed study, this time in the
300 block of Ocean Boulevazd. The Department ran the analysis for 129 hours and tracked
6,157 vehicles. It was found that there were a maximum of 83 vehicles at 35 MPH or above,
which amounts to 1.3% of the vehicles or approximately 1 car over 35 MPH every 1.5 hours.
The average speed was 26 MPH.
A review of the traffic crashes in this stretch of roadway indicated that there have been a total
of three (3) traffic crashes since January 1, 2000. There were no injuries, and none of the
crashes were the result of speeding.
Of these crashes:
One resulted when a vehicle stopped in the roadway, and then backed into the vehicle
behind it.
One occurred at the intersection of Ocean and 7`s Street at the four (4) way stop when
one vehicle pulled in front of another.
AGENDA ITEM #3B
OCTOBER 27, 2003
One occurred at Ocean and 2nd Street when a vehicle pulled through the stop sign into
the path of another caz.
Past Responses: When the Police Department has received complaints in the past, including
complaints from Mr. Kane, officers have been specifically sent to that location to run radar.
The results reported by the officers have typically been that they run radar for several hours,
and most of the time, they do not issue any speeding citations. This is consistent with the
data collected with the speed equipment.
Allocation of Police Resources:
Virtually every roadway in Atlantic Beach has problems with drivers who choose to drive too
fast, or in some other inappropriate manner. As long as drivers have the free wilt to choose
their behaviors, there will be some level of danger on the roadways. Consequently, the
Police Department conducts traffic enforcement throughout the city.
The Police Department has limited resources. At the current time, there are three (3) new
officers in vazious stages of the Field Training program, and the department is expecting to
fill another three positions with new officers this month. As a result, the Police Department
has been operating with limited staffing. However, even when staffing is up to full strength,
the Police Department has an obligation to assign resources where the most serious problems
occur.
Mayport Road typically has more than 100 traffic crashes per yeaz, and there are numerous
injuries as a result. Atlantic Boulevard has very high statistics for crashes and injuries.
Seminole Road, Plaza Drive, and Royal Palms Drive all have significant numbers of crashes
and injuries. Comparatively speaking, Ocean Boulevazd between Ahern Street and 7`h Street
has a low incidence of crashes, and virtually no injuries. As a logical result, the roadways
with higher crash, injury, and speed rates, aze assigned more resources from the Police
Department.
Conclusion: The Police Department will continue to respond to citizen complaints, and
speed enforcement will be conducted throughout the city, including Ocean Boulevard.
However, based on the information currently available, there are other areas of the city with a
much greater need for traffic enforcement for the preservation of lives and property.
BUDGET: None
RECOMMENDATIONS: None
ATTACHMENTS: i
REVIEWED BY CITY MANAGER: ~ ~
ITEM NUMBER: