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here are some roads which are more dangerous than others, and many feel that State Road 82 (SR82) is one of them. Over the last four years alone, there have been nearly 200 crashes which killed 13 people and injured 235 others according to ABC-7's report, "Crashes on SR82 Bring About Safety Concerns."

• On September 29, 2015, a 3-year-old was killed during a chain reaction crash on SR82 near Gunnery Road, and her mother and 4-year-old sister were in the hospital when the story was reported.
• In a 2015 Labor Day weekend crash, three people died in a two-vehicle crash in Collier County on SR82 near Corkscrew Road.

SR82 is locally known as Immokalee Road and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. It is a 29-mile-long east–west highway which serves northern Lee and Collier Counties and also a small part the southwest corner of Hendry County, according to the FDOT (Florida Department of Transportation).

Why is SR82 so dangerous?

SR82 is a two-lane road, with no paved shoulder and no median divider. In addition, the speed limit may be a problem. On freeways, Florida's maximum speed limit is 70 mph which also includes rural interstate highways and limited access toll roads. On rural 4-lane highways (including US and State highways) the speed limit is 65 mph and on rural 2-lane roadways the speed limit is 60 mph.

• Residents in the Lehigh Acres area, including Peter Pappas, believe that, "Maybe if they would put some lights on the road out here, it would be safer. There are no lights at nighttime. It's pitch black; you can't see where you're going."
• Enrique Midney of Immokalee started an online petition that calls for Governor Rick Scott to look into the aggressive driving, speeding, and lack of lighting along the road that makes it so dangerous. Midney calls for increased patrols to encourage safe driving, according to the Naples News.

Is the FDOT doing anything about SR82?

A spokesperson for FDOT said recently that the agency will conduct a study in the coming weeks to determine whether the speed along certain portions of the two- or four-lane road through Collier, Lee and Hendry counties should be lowered.

There are major improvements planned for SR82. Zachary Burch who is with the FDOT says, "We are working on the road. We have projects to widen the road to six or four lanes depending on the section. There will also be a new median to separate traffic, more sidewalks and bike lanes."

This is a major undertaking, a $200-million construction project, which will be done, according to the FDOT, in seven phases.  According to Mr. Burch, "Phase one, near the Lee, Hendry and Collier County lines, will begin in a few weeks.  Shawnee Road, at a cost of around $70 million, is phase two and is expected to begin in 2017."

It will be years before the SR82 construction project is completed. Authorities told NBC-2 News that until construction is completed, drivers need to slow down; leave in plenty of time to reach destinations, and not follow too closely.

"Contact the experienced accident attorneys at Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. if you or a loved one has been injured in any accident including on SR82," said Attorney Randall Spivey.

 Fort Myers Vehicle Accident Attorney, Randall L. Spivey is a Board Certified Trial Attorney – the highest recognition for competence bestowed by the Florida Bar and a distinction earned by just one (1%) percent of Florida attorneys.  He has handled over 2,000 personal injury and wrongful death cases throughout Florida.  For a free and confidential consultation to discuss your legal rights, contact the Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A., in Lee County at 239.337.7483 or toll free at 1.888.477.4839,or by email to Randall@SpiveyLaw.com.  Visit SpiveyLaw.com for more information.  You can contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A.in Charlotte County at 941.764.7748 and in Collier County 239.793.7748.