Your Opinion: Is Florida Avenue Safe?

Is Florida Avenue safe? Share your opinion in the comments section below and vote in our poll.

Florida Avenue is home to automotive dealers and repair shops, motels and local eateries in Seminole Heights. But it's also been the site of several serious auto accidents over the years, including some fatal.

After at the intersection of Florida Avenue and Lambright Street, local residents along the roadway, where traffic often travels upwards of 50 miles per hour.

A recent story on Patch attracted several comments from people in the Seminole Heights area and beyond. One resident, , who lives close to where the recent incident occurred had this to say:

"I live on North St., just one block south of Lambright where Alex Johnson died last month. The day of the accident, my neighbors and I were sad and shaken. We didn't know Alex, but we could have been her... by that I mean, we all have made the same left turn onto Florida Ave. In fact, we used to go up to Lambright to turn since North's blind spot is worse & the light at Hanna is so long. Never again. I won't ever make a left onto Florida Ave at an intersection without a light until the city addresses the obvious dangers. May Alex Johnson's death be the last tragedy on that part of Florida Ave and may peace be with her family."

One local business owner has noticed a trend along the avenue and pointed out another dangerous spot along one of the highway. That reader, , had this to say:

"Sunny Day Auto Sales I believe it's called at the corner of Jean and Florida is just as bad. These chain link fences need to come down. They make the street look like like an eyesore and they cause issues with traffic...I'm a dealer, but you won't see those fences on my property yet I've never had a problem with just 3 foot high post and chains."

Some say they feel ignored by the city after years of complaints about Florida Avenue intersections have apparently fallen on deaf ears. One poster, , voiced her irritation at the matter:

"Should something be done about this...yes. Will the city do something about this...NO. It's ridiculous how Seminole Heights is the "red headed stepchild" of tampa. Has anyone traveled sligh ave lately. You get throw all over because it has so many pot holes and they won't repave it just patch it."

is new to the area. After Johnson's death, she says she has changed her driving plan when she leaves the house:

"We just moved in the area the beginning of the year. I use to use that intersection several times a week. Since that accident I use the light at Hanna. I feel the wait is worth it. It would be nice however to have that light on a timer."

The Seminole Heights Patch Facebook page has attracted a few comments as well. Rebecca Reuben echoed the comments of previous posters with a story of her own:

"Yes! Something should definitely be done. There are too many car lots with fences or posts just off the sidewalk which make it too hard to see if cars are coming. You have to inch out too far in order to see. I've almost been hit turning onto Florida from W. Idlewild since that ABC Auto put those terrible posts up. It's dangerous and shouldn't be allowed."

So what's your opinion?