For the second year in a row, the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office (FCSO) is teaming up with law enforcement agencies across the county to continue to find new ways to keep you safe behind the wheel in Flagler County.
Starting this month, the FCSO, Florida Highway Patrol, Flagler Beach Police Department and the Bunnell Police Department will be working together as they launch Operation D.R.I.V.E. (Distracted and Reckless Intersection Violation Enforcement). They will be coordinating enforcement efforts focusing on reducing distracted and reckless driving and crashes occurring at intersections.
In 2021, there were 857 crashes involving intersections in Flagler County. “After compiling and analyzing data from previous years, we developed a plan to help prevent some of the more prevalent accidents in our county,” FCSO Operation D.R.I.V.E. Liaison and Special Operations Commander Fred Gimbel said.
More than 36-percent of the 2,370 accidents in Flagler County in 2021 occurred as a motorist was entering an intersection, inside of an intersection or as they exited an intersection.
“The success of Operation T.I.D.E.S. has been significant in making a life-saving difference on Flagler County roads last year,” Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly said. “This new year-long operation with our partners is focusing on the known trouble spots. Operation D.R.I.V.E. is just another measure we are taking to ensure safer roadways for every motorist in our county.”
 Law enforcement specialists assisting in the planning of Operation D.R.I.V.E. have analyzed the crashes. The information allows law enforcement officers what to be looking for, as well as where and when to be looking. “The most likely place for an accident to take place in Flagler County is at the intersection of Old Kings Road and Palm Coast Parkway. It will more than likely be a rear-end collision and take place between noon and 1 p.m. on a Thursday,” Gimbel added. “We are hoping with the re-engineered intersection just completed this intersection will be safer in 2022.”
Unfortunately, after a 37-percent decrease in traffic fatalities after last year’s operation there have already been five traffic fatalities in 2022, with four occurring in one day, last Friday. It is likely that most, if not all, could have been avoided with at-fault drivers being more patient and using driving common sense, like not passing in restricted passing zones or poor visibility.
“We do our research,” Gimbel added. “The 2021 operation obviously had an impact and greatly reduced the number of fatalities on our roads. It only makes sense to always work hard to continue to find new ways to make our roadways safer for our citizens and visitors to Flagler County.”
After 27 people died on Flagler County roadways in 2020, the same agencies came together last year to help combat driving behaviors which led to the increase in T.H.I.’s (Traffic Homicide Investigations). Thanks in part to Operation T.I.D.E.S. (Texting, Impaired, Distracted, Exhausted and Speeding), that number dropped to 17 in 2021. The joint effort focused on educating motorists, enforcing laws and engineering.
“Engineering involved things such as adding designated turning lanes, reducing speeds on certain roads and other traffic flow changes. All of which played a role in saving lives,” Gimbel stated. “With that kind of success, we are looking forward to getting this year’s operation underway.”
Date: 3-2-22
Prepared by: Don Foley
Release #: 2022-041
