TO: Mayor and Commissioners
FROM: Chief Javaro Sims, Police Department
THROUGH: Neal de Jesus, Interim City Manager
DATE: November 5, 2019
Title
APPROVAL OF GRANT APPLICATION AND AWARD/FDOT/MOTORCYCLE SAFETY PROGRAM
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Recommended Action:
Recommendation
Motion to Approve application for the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) FY 19/20 Motorcycle Safety program.
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Background:
The Police Department is requesting approval to submit an application and accept an award for the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) FY 19/20 Motorcycle Safety program. Funding from this grant provides for overtime salary for officers that will engage in motorcycle safety program activities.
A problem that exists and continues to increase in the City of Delray Beach are Motorcycle /Scooter serious bodily injury/fatality crashes due to reckless driving, riding without a helmet/eye protection, motor vehicle/motorcycle awareness. In the past 3 years, from 2016-2018, the City of Delray Beach has seen a large increase in motorcycle/scooter crashes that resulted in Serious Bodily Injuries/fatalities. These crashes occurred due to speeding, riders not wearing protective gear (helmets) and the increase of residents and vacationers who visit the downtown area. Due to the increase of visitors and residents there has been a large increase of citations issued from past years.
Palm Beach County is currently ranked 9th out of 25 counties in Group I for Motorcyclists, which was published in the FDOT FY2020 Highway Safety Matrix-Ranking of Florida Counties. Delray Beach is currently ranked 14th out of 101 cities for Motorcyclists, which was published in the FDOT FY2020 Highway Safety Matrix-Ranking of Florida Cities. The city of Delray Beach has been directly impacted by increased serious bodily injury/fatality crash trends and has averaged more than 9 traffic fatalities for the years 2016-2018. In the first two months of 2019 alone, Delray Beach has already recorded three...
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