Polk County officials have introduced the Polk Vision Zero Action Plan, an initiative to eliminate traffic deaths in the area.

The county has recorded more than 9,000 crashes this year, with 75 proving fatal, according to state data.

Ryan Kordek, executive director of the county’s Transportation Planning Organization, attributed the rise in accidents to significant population growth since 2020. The plan identifies high-risk areas, including Spirit Lake Road, 42nd Street Northwest, and portions of U.S. 27.

The initiative works to pinpoint dangerous intersections and roads to develop targeted safety improvements. After gathering initial online feedback, officials held a community meeting Tuesday to present accident data and engage residents in the safety effort.

The Vision Zero approach seeks to prevent all traffic-related deaths by systematically identifying and mitigating hazards.

Follow the St. Pete-Clearwater Sun on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, Google, & X

(Image credit: Spectrum News/Lizbeth Gutierrez)

St. Pete-Clearwater Sun: local St. Pete-Clearwater news at PIE-Sun.com