WHEREAS, there were 90 fatalities and nearly 6,000 injuries due to motorized vehicle crashes on roads in Polk County during 2007; and

WHEREAS, Heather Hurd was killed in a car crash on January 3, 2008 on US Highway 27 by a distracted driver who was also exceeding the speed limit; and

WHEREAS, Polk County is committed to improving traffic safety on all roads in the county; and

WHEREAS, Polk County has joined with community residents, the Florida Department of Transportation, law enforcement agencies and other groups to form a US 27 Safety Task Force; and

WHEREAS, the US 27 Safety Task Force will seek to prevent and reduce the loss of life and injuries due to motor vehicle crashes on US 27; and

WHEREAS, the Safety Task Force will identify and implement Engineering, Enforcement and Education measures to improve driver behavior and traffic safety in the US 27 corridor; and

WHEREAS, eighty-two percent of motorists rated distracted driving as a serious problem, yet over half admitted to talking on the cell phone while driving; and

WHEREAS, "Heather’s Law" seeks to ban the use of hand held cell phones and text messaging while driving except in the case of an emergency; and

WHEREAS, all residents and visitors are urged to practice safe driving habits and to obey the posted speed limit; and

WHEREAS, Polk County supports all efforts to improve traffic safety and recognizes a specific need to improve safety on US 27; and

WHEREAS, increasing driver awareness of safe driving practices is one key to improving traffic safety;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED, that the Board of County Commissioners in regular session, duly assembled, does hereby proclaim August 10-16, 2008, as

Dated this 6th day of August 2008.

Attest:

Richard M. Weiss ____________

Clerk of Courts

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