COLLIER COUNTY, Fla. — Residents of Naples Park are concerned over speeding and ignorance of stop signs along the intersection of 97th Ave North and Vanderbilt Drive.
“The concern is they are coming down Bonita Beach road and using this as a thoroughway rather than a side road for the community,” said resident Janie Nicholson.
The Collier County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) is aware of the intersection. They initiated 262 traffic stops in the area in 2019.
Lt. Tom Orr is the district commander of the North Naples Substation for CCSO.
“We’ve heard similar concerns with people in that area, people being concerned about using those streets as a cut-through, especially with a population of people staying in hotels or vacationing,” said Lt. Tom Orr.
Our crews witnessed dozens of cars speed through the 4-way stop, as well as bypass stop signs.
“All it’s gonna take is one little slip-up, and it’s going to wipe out a walker, a biker, someone is going to get killed,” said another neighbor.
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Residents are worried about the possibility of a fatal crash, especially since the sidewalks are so close to the street.
“When you look out there, the sidewalk is really close to the road. When you get to every intersection. You are only 2-3 feet away from a car when you walk through here,” said Jim Nicholson, also of Naples Park.
According to CCSO, they reported no accidents in that area in the last two years.
“They’re going over the 25 mph, and they’re flying through them like it’s not even there. We don’t want somebody getting hurt — or really a bad accident by people running this stop sign,” added Janie Nicholson.
Potential solutions could include traffic cameras, speed bumps, or increased signage. CCSO said that Collier County would have to put those measures in place.