Stopping traffic accidents in Fort Myers

FORT MYERS, Florida. The Fort Myers Police Traffic Division is cracking down on what they say leads to traffic accidents.

On Thursday, Fort Myers Highway Homicide investigators targeted illegal driving in circles and U-turns.

Two key areas of concern to the division are the roundabout at Veronica Shoemaker and Hanson Streets and Colonial Boulevard which has heavy development.

One of the sergeants said that while on duty with the FMPD on Thursday morning, his unit had about 30 stops in the Shoemaker area alone.

Cause? The FMPD says this is because drivers don’t know how to properly use roundabouts and distracting driving.

According to FMPD Highway Homicide Investigator Justin Trask, drivers using the right lane often bump into traffic, which can lead to a collision.

When it comes to Colonial Boulevard, construction is another issue.

“They are using the area, which is closed off by barricades and cones while it is under construction, to make an illegal U-turn,” said FMPD homicide investigator Josh Beckhart.

On Thursday, the FMPD spoke to the community to educate drivers and apply aggressive enforcement if necessary.

According to Investigator Trask, the units are motivated by the knowledge that they can prevent fatal accidents.

“In 2022, we had 30 deaths within the city limits of Fort Myers that we responded to,” Trask said.

And in just the first month of 2023, there have already been two fatal accidents in the city.

That’s why the road service was on the roads on Thursday.

One violation that the FMPD noticed led to several accidents on Colonial Boulevard – illegal U-turns in a barricaded area.

FMPD emphasizes that their main goal is to educate; but aggressive coercion will be used when necessary.

“Some violations are taken quite seriously,” Trask said. “Because many of the violations that we end up with fines for are violations that lead to our deaths.”

Watch the video above to see Fox 4’s Brianna Brownlee talking to the FMPD during Thursday’s surgery.