PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — The Federal Highway Administration has awarded Pinellas County with a $4.6 million grant which leaders plan to use on new technology to make roads safer.
“That sounds interesting,” Theresa Wolf said. “If it makes the roads safer, I'm all for it.”
The county has invested millions in road safety projects, which include new crosswalks, widening lanes, adding bike and pedestrian lanes and much more. But still, drivers say “it’s dangerous.”
Wolf and her friend like to go for bike rides, but they’ve cut back recently because of the number of accidents.
“It’s dangerous. The accidents really bad if you’re on a bike,” she said.
According to the county, two people are killed or critically injured every day on their roads and nearly half are pedestrians.
Wolf and others were ecstatic when we told them about the county’s new plan to help make the roads safer.
Officials said the grant will be used to purchase technology that alert drivers of traffic jams, accidents and heavy pedestrian crossing areas.
The county will be able to track the information through map companies like WAZE, and from new car technology. The data can also be used to send alerts to cars while people are driving.
“What if our cars don’t have that technology,” asked Uber driver Linda Cote.
The county is looking into using an app that will allow people to get those alerts from their smartphones.
“That sounds great,” Fredrick ward. “I think that will help a lot. We need it.”
At this time, there’s no date as to when this technology will be installed and available for use, but we will continue to follow this story and update you when we have that information.
