TAMPA, Fla. — Friday evening, Hillsborough County Transportation and its "Vision Zero Hillsborough" initiative held a vigil to remember those who died in Hillsborough County traffic crashes this year. It was part of World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims.
According to the county, eight lives are lost and 49 people are left severely injured on Florida roads every day.
Lisa Silva, the principal planner for Hillsborough County Transportation said, "It's just unacceptable to have that many people dying on our roadways. If we had that many people dying for any other reason, there would be an outcry to change how we do things."
So far this year there have been more than 136 fatalities linked to traffic crashes in Hillsborough County.
Friday's event was defined as "a call to action, urging decision-makers to confront the pressing issues contributing to the ongoing road safety crisis," and it "emphasized proven safety solutions such as redesigning hazardous roads and prioritizing safety over speed," according to its press release.
Assistant County Administrator with Hillsborough Public Works Kim Byer said the county's approach to traffic solutions is multifaceted.
"We're looking into the causes of those accidents and looking at how we can address those accidents through engineering, through adding lighting for mid-block crossings, through education," Byer said.
Abigail Flores is the safety and mobility program manager for Hillsborough County, who examines our roads to make them safer.
"We're talking about his visibility crosswalks and intersection improvements that slow down drivers as they make turns and intersection improvements that make pedestrians more visible," she said.
The county said it's working with urgency on these issues and urges drivers to take more responsibility on the road, especially during the holidays when our roads are busiest.
"We're in a hurry," Byer said. "We want to spend time with our families. We want to get our shopping done. But we really need to keep in the back of our minds that we want everyone to get home to their families."
Hillsborough County Transportation urges everyone to practice safe driving this holiday season and every day. If there's a traffic problem area in your neighborhood, you're asked to contact them.