yet another hit and run (Miami, Fort Lauderdale: transplants, insurance, neighborhoods)

[Pooring Footers]

Men racing hit tourists crossing the street and both cars take off and flee the scene. Werent we just talking about all the hit and runs in S FL like last week? Another "coincidence" I guess, right?

Senseless Hit-and-Run Kills Two in Fort Lauderdale | Transit Miami

[tonyc]

Originally Posted by Pooring Footers

Men racing hit tourists crossing the street and both cars take off and flee the scene. Werent we just talking about all the hit and runs in S FL like last week? Another "coincidence" I guess, right?

Senseless Hit-and-Run Kills Two in Fort Lauderdale | Transit Miami

Yup, I posted it earlier in the insurance question thread.

It gives all porsche drivers a bad name now.

[Pooring Footers]

S FL should be called "the hit and run capital", and anyone who disagrees is in denial. The amont of hit and runs in S FL is astonnishing.

[compelled to reply]

The only clear solution is to move to North Carolina.

[Rock Newman]

Originally Posted by compelled to reply

The only clear solution is to move to North Carolina.

That was funny !!!!! ... I wonder what all of the natives up there think of us jaded Floridians moving up there ?

[Pooring Footers]

There are tons of Floridians up there! They all like it a lot from the ones I hear from and used to talk to a lot. The natives up there may mind it a little, because many of them are the cranky transplants from up north, but because they have a FL plate, they assume they are Floridians, when they clearly are not. NC is in many areas a large mix of people, so it's not like "Floridians" really stick out.

And yes, Compelled, the people, the driving, and the hit and runs are definitely a much better situation than down here in FL. Too many criminals and malcontents are drawn to FL, so it's hard for FL to keep up with a place like NC when it comes to quality of life, etc.

Compelled, what do you think of the awful hit and run situation in S FL? What will stop this from being a major problem that it already is? Cameras at all intersections and street lights?

[Pooring Footers]

Any ideas Compelled?

[compelled to reply]

Originally Posted by Pooring Footers

Any ideas Compelled?

Sorry, I spent all my free time before on a post in the Miami forum (lol).

First of all, enforcement of our crosswalk laws couldn't hurt, especially in the more urban areas (like Ft. Lauderdale beach). It's rare to see someone actually stop for a pedestrian in a crosswalk down here, but what's even more rare is seeing a traffic officer enforcing the rules of the crosswalk. They need to get some police out there in key places to make sure motorists stop. Some more signage couldn't hurt either, kind of like the bold pedestal-style you see at the Ft. Lauderdale airport indicating that all motorists must stop for pedestrians in crosswalk. I have seen those in almost every crosswalk in New Jersey, for example.

Some kind of surveillance system couldn't hurt either, but that gets to be pricey. Maybe something like the red light cameras, where the city makes a contract with a company to install the cameras and issues fines for those who don't stop. I haven't seen any system like that, but don't see why it couldn't be done.

Another solution could be to post traffic signals at crosswalks. I see these in residential neighborhoods all over Broward County, but not as much in the higher-volume areas. There are a few here and there, but more couldn't hurt.

In this tragic case, surveillance would have been the best solution.

[Pooring Footers]

I know it'd be expensive, but I say, in places like S FL where hit and runs and not stopping for pedestrians is so prevelant, put cameras on all street lights at high traffic areas. But this probably still wouldnt totally solve the problem, because the lunatics and angry aggressives are still gonna live and breed in S FL.

[tonyc]

Porsche hit and run: Fort Lauderdale police identify owner of Porsche that fatally hit pair and fled. -- South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com