TAMPA, Fla. — New changes are going into effect starting Thursday in the University area of Tampa to slow drivers down.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office is reducing the speed limit 10 miles per hour on 56th Street between Fowler Avenue and Fletcher Avenue.
Signs notify drivers of the change for two weeks starting Thursday before the speed limit is enforced.
It’s part of the effort Hillsborough deputies are taking to try to slow drivers down. It comes after the sheriff’s office launched a safety initiative in the University Area just two months ago after a national research organization ranked Tampa bay among the most dangerous places for pedestrians and bicyclists in the country.
Now, deputies are spending three days a week enforcing the speed limit and educating drivers about pedestrian safety.
“Our goal is not to just write a whole bunch of citations. That is quite expensive and that is not our priority that’s going to be cases where that is certainly going to play a part, but the goal here is education, changing a pattern of unsafe behavior,” Sheriff Chad Chronister said.
This is also the same area where a speeding undercover deputy hit and killed 15-year-old Josiah Pinner who was not in a cross walk when the crash happened.
Earlier this week, the department and the state attorney’s office announced the deputy will not face any charges. They are calling the accident a tragedy.
As part of the latest safety changes, drivers will get a pass for the next two weeks before the speed limit change in enforced.
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