Slow down, Flagler Beach: the City Commission on Thursday voted 4-1 to drop the citywide speed limit to 20, from a variety of higher speeds–30 along some streets, 25 along others. Speeds along State Road A1A and State Road 100 will remain at 25.
The 20 mph speed limit will apply only to city roads. State Road 100 and State Road A1A will remain at 25 or higher in the city, John Anderson Highway and Roberts Road, which have speeds of up to 45, will not be affected. By law, police may not ticket a driver who breaks the speed limit by 5 miles per hour or less, so the effective speed limit in the city will be 25.
The unanswered questions are twofold: whether, and to what extent, the Flagler Beach Police Department will be able to enforce what for many residents and visitors will be a significantly lower speed limit than they’re used to, and what sign that may send visitors who may end up with traffic tickets more expensive than a dinner at Next Door Bistro or The Anchor. And how much changing the signs will cost the city.
When Palm Coast considered lowering its speed limit from 30 to 25 on its 550 miles of streets, city staff estimated the cost in signage alone at $1.6 million. Sign-changing costs were never discussed during the Flagler Beach commission’s debates. (The city manager said a cost for changing 50 signs will be calculated by early next week.)
“You can change speed limit to two and a half miles an hour, and if as a city it’s not enforced, or not enforced to the degree it needs to be, changing the speed limit will not get us anywhere. And that’s the concern I have,” Commissioner Eric Cooley said.
The city commissioned a study from a consultant to determine what would be the best speed limit in town. The consultant put that number at 20. That, plus various safety concerns, the lack of sidewalks and agreement on the commission about the character of the city as a walkable, street-sharing city, swayed commissioners toward the same number, even though all agree that it’s a steep change. There’s a sense on the commission of wanting to take back some control over the city’s pace.
“When I’m out is the car, and this happens all the time, they are doing probably more than 40 when they’re they’re going by,” Cooley said. He did not say who “they” are. “I’ll be out walking the dog, work in the yard, just in the kitchen, looking out the window and somebody’s flying by. Now, obviously our police can’t be everywhere. However, the focus is on different things, bringing change in behavior. So the rationale behind the 20 is golf carts are ordinance-limited to 20. Bicycles, they tend to stay below 20. Pedestrians, certainly. But if we can get everybody closer to one uniform speed limit, the safer you’re going to be. I’m all about data, and if the study recommended 20, then I feel confident with going with that, even though there’s a lot of people that would rather have 25, and those people are probably the ones doing 40.”
Cooley thought changing the limit from 30 to 25 would just be a costly sign-change that would not make much difference on the streets. He said with the influx of visitors and the city being built up, it is no longer the city it was 30 years ago, warranting a change in pace.
Commissioner Rick Belhumeur, who opposed the 20 limit, preferring 25, said the focus should be on uniformity in speed limits. He’s had a golf cart less than a year. He’s logged 2,200 miles on it already. It goes no faster than 25. He goes at that speed, but slows down when he encounters people walking their dog or with a baby carriage, or simply walking along. “I think most of our locals do that,” he said. “But if you’re going to change it to 20 miles an hour, you’re going to have that same idiot” going at the faster speeds, “whereas I think it’s going to frustrate some of the locals, dropping the speed limit 10 miles an hour.” He said that would create a sense of frustration among locals.
Mayor Patti King favored the 20. She said 25 matches A1A, yielding no benefit to people changing their driving habits. To Commissioner James Sherman, the city is all about sharing the road, which should mean uniformity in speeds–and encouraging drivers who want to go a bit faster to take A1A.
Commission Chair Scott Spradley has been of two minds on the issue. He’s been asking those who attend his weekly town hall what they’d prefer. The 25 has tended to win. But Spradley gives weight to different ideas. His colleagues on the commission have swayed him to his conclusion. “Where I have finally landed on this is that differential, the safety aspect of it,” he said, “combined with giving a disincentive to jump off A1A onto the interior roads has me leaning towards 20, even though I know there’ll be some fresh frustration with that. But for me, the balance is a little frustration here versus safety overall.”
“well, now you killed it for me. I was going to agree with Eric,” Commissioner Jane Mealy said, laughing: the seemingly immutable rift valley between Cooley and Mealy has become one of the commission’s standards, though they do agree with each other more than they let on. “We did ask a professional to do a study,” she said, a study that scientifically measuring what the speed should be. Mealy lives on Lambert Avenue., where the consultant is proposing that additional measures be considered, such as speed bumps, because Lambert is a “different animal”–a street with no stop signs.
The few residents who spoke were supportive of going 20. “It’s what the data supports. It’s what would provide for the safest streets, which you said you want,” one resident said. “I agree with those of you who said it helps define who we are. We are fun, we are walkable, we are a place people want to be. And we’re going to be in good company when we do this, the Villages US military bases and the entire nation of the United Kingdom encourage 20 mile an hour speed limits.” (An earlier version of this article reported that while 20 mph speed limits apply in Wales, it is not true of the United Kingdom, where uniform street speed limits are 30 mph. In fact, as the resident who spoke to the commission, Eddie Fendley, corrected in an email to FlaglerLive, Britain’s new transportation secretary is supportive of local authorities looking to adopting 20 mph zones, which have been adopted in some places in England and will be adopted in Scotland by 2025.)
Leann Koch, a Flagler Beach resident of 33 years, was also appreciative as “someone who our whole family bikes, walks, roller skates, everything on the back street,” she said. “We appreciate your consideration in lowering the speed limit, not to 25 but to 20. We’ve got cats, kids, dogs, coyotes in the neighborhood. We have employees speeding down the roads to get to the two restaurants in our neighborhood. And I clocked one. I was on A1A going 42 one day, and I noticed, boom, this vehicle was doing the same on the back street on North Central, going 42 miles an hour.”
The Villa Beach Walker says
Hurrah! On the north side of town motorists and bikers frequently use Central Ave rather than A1A. Even with stop signs these folks are doing 35-55 MPH with people walking or bicycling along the side of the road sometimes with a dog on a leash. We’ve had too many near misses, especially near the churches. I’m confident that FBPD can issue enough citations to enough motorists to correct bad behaviors. This will be a welcome change.
Linda R Morgan says
I agree that it will be frustrating, but safer in the long run. People are flying down the streets on the south side. We are also experiencing a lot more door to door solicitation and they are persistent. Yesterday I saw two men walk straight to the back yard of a neighbor who wasn’t home. I slowed down to talk and they said they were inspectors from Spectrum. One had a hanging badge and other did not. No uniform, or shirt with id, unmarked truck….I called spectrum and they had no tech’s scheduled for that address. Because I didn’t take pictures or get a tag number there was not much that could be done, but I am now going to be a little bit more aware of the surroundings.
Shark says
Why didn’t you call the police instead of spectrum if you had a concern?
Linda R Morgan says
If you really want to know…I was on my way to an appointment, so after seeing the badge I continued on. I called the police last week about the dunes and they wanted more information. So knowing the police would want more info, I went to the source. By the way, Spectrum uses 3rd partied help and those workers do not necessarily have names on trucks or uniforms or tee shirts. I really meant for it to be a “heads up” for all my neighbors and friends in Flagler Beach. I probably should have posted it somewhere else but since the speed limit change is directly related to safety, I thought it wouldn’t hurt.
The Sour Kraut says
So it will take 50% longer to get anywhere? Better off with speed tables (not speed bumps). The signs can be ignored.
Celia Pugliese says
FB can do it no problem and in Palm Coast Carl Cote runs allover the board all kinds of studies and approvals “required by the State”…what kinda charade is that? The street signs are manufactured in house as far as I was shown when I took my PC Citizens Academy over 20 years ago and that gouging cost of 1.5 millions cost to change the speed limits city signs, hard to swallow. FB is doing the right thing as last week we were seating at the Golden Lion enjoying great service and food plus a bit too loud band…this deranged criminal driving a mid size black late model, could be a Lexus, Toyota or one of those brands speeding south on A1A among people crossing, cars entering or parking and this demoniacal at the steering wheel speeding! No cops around! My heart stopped! People dogging the assassin. A1A needs cameras to take this untisocial drivers and fine the heck out of their pockets nd stop the hazard. Lay speed humps on A1A and who doesn’t like it go elsewhere.
Slow Down says
Celia, My dad worked for a Township (Police Dept) up north. This township had a Sign Shop on the premises, one of my dad’s job was to replace signs that he saw were damaged in any way, shape or form. My dad made the signs, did everything except replace the pole if it was damaged (required concrete). There is no way it would cost anywhere near 1.5 million to change a sign from 30 to 25 speed limit.
PeachesMcGee says
Oh man, the northern transplants will hate this. Don’t like it? I95 is open 24/7 with NASCAR like speeds.
Slow down, take a breath of the most excellent beach air in Florida.
Tony says
If it wasn’t for the Northern Transplants there would be no Flagler Beach.
Laurel says
Tony: Just the opposite.
You northerners think you improve everything here.
Mothers worry says
Look how us northerner’s improved you gene pool!! lol
Laurel says
Motherworry: That’s just nasty arrogance, proving my point.
Slow Down says
Not every northern transplant will hate this. In fact maybe none of them will hate it. I stopped going out during certain times of the day and try very hard to stay away from as I call it “the line of fire” and I’m a transplant. You know, there are more than enough youngsters (and if i just used a wrong word i’m sorry) that can’t wait to get to the next light on Palm Coast Pkwy and they don’t look like transplants to me. I realize this story is about FB and I’m talking Palm Coast but speeding is a problem especially on Rt 1 at the round about sometimes it seems like the drivers go faster to get into the circle before other cars. So with that being said I’m a little offended by your comment, however, we are all entitled to our opinions. I’m happy that the speed limits are decreasing and I hope it works.
Laurel says
Sadly, Flagler Beach is going to shit. It’s not the same town it was 30 years ago? No, it’s not the same town it was five years ago. Are you serious? You had to pay a “consultant” to determine the limit should be dropped five miles per hour? For safety reasons? Just what data is that? Are your constituents really that…never mind. I’ll tell you for free that if you close off all streets to traffic, it’s even safer, right? Maybe we can walk faster than the cars, will that do?
So, how about instead of the police cars sitting at the bottom of the bridge, on the state road, catching cars that temporarily succumb to gravity, why not have them ticket the very few cars that are going over the allowed five mph limit on the town streets? Not enough ticket revenue for that?
By the way, your cats and dogs are supposed to be on a leash by Flagler County ordinance. Did you not know that, or is that to be ignored? Hopefully, you taught your kids not to be stupid on streets.
In my 72 years as a native Floridian, who has lived in various Florida towns, I have never seen such nonsense consistently happening as it is in Flagler County. The *consultants* must be laughing their asses off. What did they charge for this fiasco?
Scott Spradley says
The consultant is Paul Mytytka, a local civil engineer who donated his time for the study at no charge to the City. The decision to set the uniform speed at 20 miles per hour came after an advertised public meeting in which those who attended and participated in public comment vouched for the 20 mile per hour speed limit.
Scott Spradley
Laurel says
Scott Spradley: So, did Mr. Mytytka get his “data” from the Florida Greenbook? I’m sure he is familiar with FDOT standards. Where did this “data” come from? This is clearly a situation where the commission has succumbed to a handful of the condo commando style crowd. There is so much exaggeration coming from these individuals. I’d actually like to see how someone can accelerate to 55 mph between stop signs on each block! Do these walkers have speed monitors? How about ditching the 20 foot dog leashes that allow the dog to get through the intersection before the owner gets to it?
There clearly are some hot spots, and the commission should deal with those hot spots, and not punish the whole city. That’s bad management. One hot spot area is around the church, so that area should be investigated, and monitored by the Police Department (move them from the foot of the bridge). Other areas are the side streets right off Moody. I have witnessed school buses and delivery trucks, which are timed and therefore speed, use these roads to avoid congestion on Moody. Do you know why people are using the side streets off A1A on the south side of town? Because A1A, at 25 mph is nuts. It makes sense at the intersection of A1A and Moody, but no sense at all when you travel further south.
You may actually encounter more problems with reduced speed limits. While driving at higher speeds, people tend to be more alert, they have to be. I know you have, on many occasions, driven behind someone who is going excessively slow, and they cannot seem to stay within the white lines. This is rather common, in fact, many drive right down the bicycle lane. The reason being, they get bored, and feel they do not have to pay attention, so they play with their phones, fiddle with directions, whatever. I’ve witnessed a driver flossing her teeth! Twenty miles per hour is excessively boring! A bored driver is not good.
So instead of handing out speeding tickets for 27 miles per hour (if you can possibly imagine) concentrate on the areas that really are the problem. If there is a real problem on one neighborhood street, send the police there, or put speed bumps there. People will realize certain areas are considered speed traps, and they will either avoid these areas or slow down in these areas. Putting all city streets at an excruciating 20 mph, where people are going to get frustrated, and do stupid things, is just as unreasonable as putting speed bumps on every city street, making maintenance difficult.
Punishing the whole class for a couple of kids breaking the rules is not a good idea.
JimboXYZ says
The only reason the speed limit will remain 50 mph for at least now on SR-100 is because there will be that middle of the night with no traffic that makes no sense for slowing SR-100 to 35 mph. But let’s face it, the gridlock for peak traffic on SR-100, we’ll be fortunate to do 10-20 mph stopping at every red light on that road around Airport/FPCHS to Old King’s Road traffic lights.
Flagler Beach has reduced the speed limit to 25 mph on A1A already, only makes sense that a street over for residential be slower than A1A with the human pedestrian, bicycle & golf cart traffic on those streets. That happens when growth plans become realities. I don’t go over there enough to really care what the speed limit is there to get a citation for exceeding 20-25 mph, dependent upon what road one drives. And here will still be those that try to drive it faster than posted, Flagler Beach PD will be there for them when they do it, regardless of whether it’s 1 or more miles over the speed limit.
Kim says
Great! I hope this includes A1A through the entirety of the city. I have been passed on the double yellow southbound countless times where the speed limit changes to 45 mph near Oceanfront Grill. That is a residential area, and I’ve often wondered when a pedestrian is going to be hit in that circumstance. Also, motorcycles (and cars) regularly are at what appears to be over 60mph. No enforcement. I’ve never seen it. Not once.
Mike says
I live at Flagler Beach on A1A near 26th. If you change the speed limit to 20 mph in the rest of the city where I live it’s 45 mph It’s a speedway now with little enforcement and will become even more dangerous as folks hit the gas (or electricity)in frustration having to go 20 mp.With a public crossover that already has a memorial for a pedestrian fatality. Has a study been regarding speeding by cars and trucks on A1A near 26th st,?
Back a few months there were dump trucks speeding every day do we have any records of tickets issued? Or noise ordinance violations for Sunday morning motorcycles with illegal pipes and ridiculously loud music blasting. Really, Sunday morning.
☮️
bystandard says
This is really going to suck for my cop neighbor with all the blue lines and ligts on his house who loves to drive is his pickup truck at mach 10 on our residential street. Will the rules apply to him when he runs over a kid?
Endless dark money says
Ha not hardly police union will protect him from accountability. Guess why most cities invest in sidewalks. 20 is stupid slow most cars can do that without touching the gas. But stupid and slow are on par for repulicons
Maryann Andreychak says
I agree with all of the safety aspects of this decision especially because of our narrow streets in town. But I also think that roads need to be “shared”. Bicyclists need to not take up the width of the of the road moving along at a slower pace than allowable for cars. Riding in a single line hinders the ability to chat with each other but when a cars comes up from behind or in front please do share the road so that cars can safely pass by at the legal limit. Rear view mirrors on bikes to see what is coming up from behind are a great asset.
Joe D says
I FULLY agree people are driving too darn fast on residential streets. Unfortunately changing the signs are not going to stop those that are ALREADY driving 40+ with the 35 mph signs.
PS: you don’t HAVE to swap out the whole sign. Maryland changed speed signs by attaching thin metal plates over the adjusted digit(s) and left the sign and the pole intact. It looked like they were stuck on, but they could have been attached by screws or anchors. I guarantee THAT process wouldn’t cost 1.5 million!
The issue is ENFORCEMENT….I fully agree about the sudden change in speeds to 45 at the north A1A, (where I live) and the south of town. I too have been passed over double yellow lines by someone whizzing by doing 15-20 mph OVER the limit. I’m a retired Nurse who did record reviews for our trauma ER. Believe me head on collisions from illegal passing can kill SEVERAL people, in all 3 vehicles in HORRIBLE ways.
Yes I agree the bottom of the bridge on route 100 going East, is a SPEED trap! My car can DRIFT over 35 from gravity, after coming over the crest of that bridge. I don’t know if there is a “REDUCED SPEED AHEAD” sign there, but there OUGHT to be, to warn people of the sudden unexpected DROP in speed limit. I haven’t gotten a ticket yet, but I’m sure, eventually I will.
If the issue is lack of police officers to enforce (although with the continued increase in police staffing requests, I don’t see HOW), you can always use…dare I say it?…..MOBILE traffic cameras (not stationary, which people LEARN to AVOID), but ones that can be on one street for THIS month, then a different street next month, etc. They are VERY EFFECTIVE.
Unfortunately, a side issue is the almost total LACK of sidewalks in the residential neighborhoods! When I moved here I couldn’t believe it…it FORCES walkers to be out in the streets. I drive a hybrid car, that uses almost SILENT battery power at slow, neighborhood speeds…people don’t even hear me approaching even without their ear buds in!
At least Toyota has developed an actual SONAR system that does 2 things. 1) It makes my steering wheel vibrate when someone walks out in front of me between parked cars on the street (and especially on a parking lot) and 2) on the outside, it generates an audible “CHIRPING” sound, intended to warn pedestrians of my car’s approaching from the rear…my car is 10 years old…and it works!
Good luck in TRYING to reduce Speed related accidents, but until drivers start caring about the safety of EVERYONE, instead of just getting to their destination in LIGHTNING SPEED, sadly no law changes are going to be effective.
Joe says
It’s not just visitors but residents no one seems to want to obey the speed laws.
Jill says
Why would anyone want to go to Flagler Beach?? Dog crap everywhere and overpriced greasy spoons.
TBD says
I can’t remember the last time I went over 25 driving anywhere in Flagler Beach. Typically your stuck behind a 90 year old going 15 who can barely see over the steering wheel. Not sure where everyone is seeing all the speed freaks.
JonQPublik says
I really don’t understand Flagler Beach at all. You want the tourism dollars, but hate tourists? You hate them so much, you slow them down when they leave?
You hate them, but when they move here you get all NIMBY even though the property values increase (and don’t b!tch about taxes: sell and move, no one is stopping you (and you’re welcome for enjoying that bump in price)).
There is always a “them,” isn’t there?
Laurel says
JonQ: You found “them” didn’t you?
Ed Fendley says
Hooray!
And to correct the editor’s attempted correction, and in defense of my statement before the Commission, please note that the new UK government is indeed encouraging 20 mph:
UK Transport Minister Clears Path for More 20mph Speed Zones, available at:
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-08-21/uk-20mph-zones-ltns-transport-minister-louise-haigh-open-to-more-limits?cmpid=BBD082124_CITYLAB&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&utm_term=240821&utm_campaign=citylabdaily
Wont go over the bridge! says
Having been on this earth 52 years, Most of those driving I paid for and had a car before my 16th birthday but only one speeding ticket. in Flagler Beach, Doing 31 on A1A. This caused my rates to rise from $63/ month to $110. (3 points, doesn’t matter if its your first ticket in 35 years. No Fireworks? lousy parking hey y’all can keep it.
protonbeam says
More ridiculous rules and opportunity to be policed and ticketed- speed limits were fine and I am certain the accident and colisison data supports that- what data will change is the number of citations (and speeding ticket revenue) the city will generate now. I am not sure what FPD does most of the time except speed enforcement – the town has many issues but all I ever see is speed traps at the bridge or on Moody, etc. Council changes rues and codes woith little to no consideration of the totality of those effects – these people saying people drive 55mph – well thats bull shit – and it WAS ALREADY illegal if they were.
Laurel says
Proton: And if the speed limit is set to zero, there will be no citations, maybe, except at the foot of the bridge.
My favorite cartoonist, Jerry Van Amerongen, once drew a cartoon with a guy looking sadly at his wrecked, rear bumper with the comment about his trying to control the local traffic. Funny as hell!
People just love to come to *paradise* and can’t wait to change it.
Laurel says
Flagler Beach: One giant school zone, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Do 31 mph on A1A, and you’ll get a detention! Your school record will follow you through your life, kids.
Omg.
John McClellan says
This change to 20 mph becomes effective…. when??