State Senator Rodriguez Files Bill to Prevent Cars from Crashing into Stores

Jose Javier Rodriguez filed a bill to install barriers which would prevent vehicles from crashing into storefronts in South Florida. These accidents happen more often than you might think, and they can cause property damage, bodily injury, and even death. The installation of concrete posts, called “bollards” in the safety field, improves parking lot and sidewalk safety and would require an appropriation of only $250,000, under this bill.

That appropriation is seen as a good start to get the program running. The Department of Transportation would receive applications from each county, set the selection criteria, and manage the awarding and overseeing of grant money. Runaway vehicles that crash into storefronts are often linked with elderly drivers.  There appears to be no political support among the electorate for restricting the driving age.  The use of bollards as a countermeasure seems like a sensible option to alleviate the problem. Under this bill, grants would be weighted toward those areas that have a higher concentration of senior citizens, and higher pedestrian traffic. Original story as seen on on nbcmiami.com