Four deaths in Stuart area wreck illustrate why we need crackdown on speeders | Opinion

A cop pulled me over a few nights ago while I was driving along U.S. 1 — and I couldn't be happier about it.

No, that wasn't my reaction in the moment. It happened after a long day of writing about the gubernatorial debate between Charlie Crist and Ron DeSantis.

The officer said I made an unsafe lane change, which is possible, considering how tired I felt and the ample number of blind spots in my car.

He let me off with a warning and I continued home, driving more carefully, to spend a little quality time with my wife and dog before turning in for the night.

The incident wouldn't have been worth mentioning, except I was already planning to write about speeding along U.S. 1 and other state and federal highways that crisscross the Treasure Coast.

My brief encounter served as a reminder police officers are out there, making sure our region's traffic safety laws are enforced.

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Thinking back on the horrific wreck that occurred a few days ago on U.S. 1 just north of the Stuart city limits, I actually wish the enforcement was a little more aggressive.

Most readers are familiar with the details: A Chrysler minivan attempted to turn left from U.S. 1 onto 14th Street Oct. 18 when it was struck by a Tesla traveling south on U.S. 1.

Four people — two in each vehicle — were killed.

It was a heart-wrenching situation, on many levels.

The occupants of the van, Tom Trowbridge, 70, and his wife, Debbie, 73, were reportedly on their way home from celebrating their anniversary. Friends described them as loving and kind people who regularly attended Treasure Coast Presbyterian Church.

Reading about the Trowbridges reminded me of a couple about the same age who attend my church. I imagine most of us have friends, relatives, or neighbors who fit that general description.

The two occupants of the Tesla, George Meyer III, 18, and Emma Albritton, 19, seem to have been likable people, too.

Meyer was remembered as a good student and athlete, who aspired to become a cardiologist. Albritton, who wanted a career in sports medicine, was described by her mother as "a light everywhere she went.”

Meyer and Albritton were students at Indian River State College believed to be headed to a Stuart kava bar for a study session.

I didn't recognize Albritton or Meyer from their photos, but it's entirely possible I might have crossed paths with one or both of them at some point, since I'm a kava drinker, too. Kava enthusiasts on the Treasure Coast are a pretty tight-knit group.

It's impossible to make sense of this sort of tragedy. But if there is a lesson to be learned, I believe what happened illustrates the need for more traffic enforcement along busy roadways.

In the aftermath of the wreck, some people suggested improvements for traffic signals at the intersection where the accident occurred, only allowing left turns with a green arrow.

I can't speak directly to the benefits of improving traffic signals at that intersection. However, I know it's impractical to install lights with turn arrows at every spot along U.S. 1 where motorists might consider turning left.

To me, cutting driver speeds is the greater need.

I'm not suggesting Treasure Coast communities should aspire to become like Waldo and Lawtey, two North Florida towns that were once notorious speed traps.

But there's got to be a happy medium between where those communities were then and where we are now.

I understand the accident is still under investigation, and not all the facts are known yet.

There does seem to be a lot of evidence — eyewitness reports, video, and wreckage strewn over a wide area — that strongly suggests speed was a factor in this wreck.

If it was, I'm not here to judge anyone. When I was in my teens, and probably even in my 20s, I didn't consider a new car to be properly broken in unless I'd had it up to 100 mph at least once.

Stupid, I know. People, young and old alike, don't always consider the possible consequences of their actions, though.

And if they think they can break the law without any real danger of being caught, well ...

This particular accident happened in an unincorporated section of Martin County, near the northern outskirts of Stuart.

Stuart Police Chief Joseph Tumminelli said there used to be a memo of understanding between his department and the Martin County Sheriff's Office that gave city police responsibility for patrolling that area.

However, Tumminelli said a new agreement was enacted several months ago, shifting responsibility to the sheriff's office.

As a taxpayer and someone who would like to be protected from younger versions of myself, it doesn't matter to me which agency has jurisdiction. What matters is some agency ought to be responsible for keeping would-be speeders honest.

The same is true on other busy roadways, like Kanner Highway and Monterey Road in Martin County, Crosstown Parkway and St. Lucie Boulevard in St. Lucie County, and State Road A1A and Indian River Boulevard in Indian River County.

We're a state blessed with straight, flat roadways, which can increase the temptation to drive faster than the posted speed limits.

Particularly as we move into the winter months, with more snowbirds and holiday revelers on local roads, the potential for danger increases.

Getting pulled over by police isn't usually the highlight of anyone's day. But it could help ensure there are more other days to compare those not-so-fun days against.

This column reflects the opinion of Blake Fontenay. Contact him via email at blake.fontenay@tcpalm.com or at 772-232-5424.

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Wreck near Stuart should be a wake-up call for area police | Opinion