Belleair Florida Lowers Speed Limits

Last updated on March 7, 2023

Belleair Florida Lowers Town Speed Limits

Belleair Florida Commissioners have approved Ordinance 560, lowering town speed limits. While, Indian Rocks Road’s speed limit will remain at 30 miles per hour. The new ordinance reduces the speed on Belleair roads from 30 mph to 25 mph.

Streets previously lowered to 20 mph shall remain at 20 mph and are specifically named in the ordinance. Included in Ordinance 560 are Hibiscus Lane, Oakmont Lane, Country Club Lane, Laurie Lane, Meredith Lane, Belleview Boulevard, St. Andrews Drive, Palm Terrace, Poinsettia, and Cypress Avenue, a narrow street that connects into Mehlenbacher will remain at 20 miles per hour.

Florida allows towns to establish a top speed limit of 20 or 25 miles per hour on local roads in residential areas. Providing an evaluation concludes such a speed limit is reasonable. The Town investigated speed limits within the Town and determined that reducing the speed limits would result in a safety benefit.

Town Manager Lancaster stated they typically include a 30-day educational period of issuing a warning to motorists before citing any violators.

Belleair Ordinance 560 

Until Belleair resolves who has the jurisdiction to lower Indian Rocks Road speed limit, it will remain at 30 miles per hour until Pinellas sanctions the change. Ordinance 560 will need amending, and IRR speed limit will be 25 MPH.

Before voting, a Commissioner asked about additional expenditures and a potential escalation in calls for police services. How do you measure the cost of a handful of traffic signs? When, in fact. Lowering speeds is a safeguard for everybody, particularly our children, cyclists, pedestrians, and people with disabilities.

I appreciate the concern for our tax dollars. However, I find the question strange. Belleair spent a half million dollars on a roundabout. That caused more problems than it solved. When the speed limit is reduced, even from 30 mph to 20 mph, there’s usually a reduction in accidents and a 20% decline in casualties.

How’s it possible an Official said they’ve tried to lower Belleair’s speed limits for ten years. In November of 2022, the Town Commission chose to reduce the speed limit throughout Town. Created a file on 1/4/2023 that amended chapter 58, article I, section 58-1, then Ordinance 560 was approved, and just like that, speed limits were lower.

So, I applaud those who took the initiative to address the challenges instead of trying did make Belleair safer.