CLAY COUNTY – Interactions between drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians are a bit of a gray area – and are potentially fatal.

According to the 2022 Dangerous By Design study, pedestrian deaths increased in the U.S. by 4.7%, or 6,529 to an estimated 7,265 deaths. Florida is listed as the second most dangerous state behind New Mexico. The Jacksonville metro area has the sixth-highest average fatality rate of metro areas in the country.

In Clay County, the study documented approximately 40 pedestrian deaths between 2008-2020.

Clay County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Joel Smith has been with the agency for 10 years. As a traffic deputy, he can handle traffic enforcement and crashes. The county is growing, and with distracted driving, more traffic can lead to more accidents, he said.

Though the agency is first on scene and stages crashes across the county, Smith said Blanding Boulevard, County Road 220 and U.S. Highway 17 are high-frequency crash areas.

“Primarily, what we see is speed and inattentiveness,” Smith said. “ … We’re data-driven, it’s going to be your most congested roadways that are the most dangerous.”

Smith advised bicyclists and pedestrians to wear visible clothing, lighting and use sidewalks though vehicles need to keep three feet away due to state law. He said vehicles turning are susceptible to striking bicyclists and pedestrians.

“Utilize the infrastructure and the tools that are there,” Smith said. “It’s about paying attention.”

The Florida Highway Patrol investigates traffic fatalities in the county. Florida Highway Patrol Sgt. Dylan Bryan said numerous distractions can derail someone’s day or their life.

“The key is getting various road users, whether on foot or on a bicycle, to use those lanes and crosswalks in an efficient way,” Bryan said. “A bike can move to the sidewalk if it’s the safer option.”

Other than staying out of the road, Bryan also urged pedestrians to wear reflective clothing,  carry lights and be aware of “conflict points” on their route.

“Anything that brings attention (to pedestrians) in close proximity to vehicles is certainly a good idea,” he said.

Pedestrian safety is also important for two municipal police departments responsible for large swaths of U.S. 17.

Green Cove Springs Police Department Chief John Guzman said the agency conducts traffic enforcement on U.S. 17 year-round. He said most of the traffic stops are in reference to traffic infractions and end in written or verbal warnings. Locating impaired drivers is another key task for the agency.

The department maintains regular contact with the state Department of Transportation, he said.

“We advise drivers to obey the speed limits, avoid using their phones while driving and to wear their seatbelts,” Guzman said. “Pedestrians are advised to used designated crosswalks to cross U.S. 17.”

Gary Goble, Town of Orange Park Police Chief, said many people have had no real driver’s training when they begin driving, usually taught how to drive by their parents or friends. Law enforcement plays a large role in educating drivers, he said.

“... It’s about education and enforcing the traffic laws in an effort to help drivers become better at driving defensively and being aware of what’s around them to keep them safe,” Goble said.

He cautioned motorists to drive cautiously and said speed and distracted driving are leading causes of crashes.

“Put the phone down, the text can wait,” Goble said. “There are enough things going on around us to distract us while driving, answering a text doesn’t need to be one of them.”