Gulf Breeze Police Department makes great strides with traffic safety

The number of crashes within city limits has decreased by 24.6 percent between 2003-2007, while such incidents increased in Santa Rosa County by 22.5 percent, and Escambia County by 9.9 percent. Across the state, there was a 5.3 percent increase in the same time.

"We are delighted that our efforts are getting positive results," said Gulf Breeze Police Chief Peter Paulding. "We implemented the majority of the recommendations of the Traffic Safety Task Force (TSTF) since 2003 and we think as a result of those activities we have been able to make a positive impact. I can't think of any one element of the TSTF plan that made the most difference."

The decrease of 223 crashes over past 4 years equals on average one life saved; 34 injuries prevented and $1,115,000 in property damages saved according to data compiled by the GBPD. Paulding credits the Volunteers in Policing (V.I.P.) volunteer program, the addition of the red light camera on Highway 98, Daniel Drive extension and the reconfiguration of medians as all having had a positive result.

The award-winning V.I.P. program has tallied 4408 volunteer hours, 44,266 miles driven, 1,199 violations noted and 188 motorists assisted. The GBPD has also shared surplus cruisers and V.I.P. volunteers with municipalities after Hurricane Katrina and in support of traffic control during Blue Angels weekend, the Gulf Breeze Christmas parade, on shopping center patrols, and in the Seniors vs. Crime program.

The Traffic Signal Camera documented 1,088 incidents in 2006, with 527 notices sent. In 2007 3,048 incidents were captured on film and 2,197 motorists received the civil fees.

"The more we have done, the greater the combined affect of the activities" Paulding says. "It started with signs, and we did everything we could do that the task force recommended. We are still exploring and working on bike paths throughout the city limits, but nearly everything else the TSTF asked of us was completed.

The GBPD won the 2006 and 2007 Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) Law Enforcement Challenge and was named the Best

Traffic Safety Community in Florida in

2006, 2007 and the placed second in

traffic safety in 2007.