Even after all the construction and so-called road improvements and overpasses, US 19 remains one of the most dangerous stretches of highway in Pinellas County. It’s also the most dangerous. That’s why local law enforcement agencies in Pinellas County teamed up to work together on the busy roadway to catch drunk drivers, speeders, and aggressive drivers.
Forty extra officers focused their attention on the highway, from Tarpon Springs to St. Petersburg.
They witnessed and ticketed drivers for speeds exceeding 100 mph. There are parts of US 19 that can turn into a drag strip and that was one of the things officers were looking for during the operation. The road can go from an open drag strip in one moment to heavy congestion in another. This can lead to driver frustration and issues of aggressive driving and road rage.
In the latest survey conducted for the year 2015 and published by Forward Pinellas, US 19 took 4 of the top 10 spots for most auto accidents. U.S. Highway 19 and Tampa Road has had the most crashes of any intersection over the past six years, partly because it’s the fourth most congested intersection in the county. In second place is the Curlew Road and U.S. Highway 19 intersection, which is in the same vicinity.
In all, eight of the top 25 crash intersections are along the U.S. 19 corridor. But no matter what routes you take, it’s up to you to watch the road and make adjustments as needed.
This is to say nothing of the pedestrians who are killed each year on roads like US 19.
If you have to travel US 19 in Pinellas County for business or pleasure, you’re sure to witness a horrific car accident. You’ll also see the cause of many of those accidents-distracted drivers texting while driving, speeding drivers, red light running, failures to yield, following too closely and a myriad of other dangerous driving habits that have unfortunately become a way of life on US 19.