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WINK News reported in March 2019 that Cape Coral was investigating solutions to the traffic jam on Cape Coral Parkway.

Some of the suggested solutions involved:

• Extending the Del Prado Boulevard turning lane. Currently, it only accommodates nine vehicles creating an overflow of traffic which often blocks drivers who want to go straight. 

• Getting rid of on-street parking along Cape Coral Parkway. There are more than 60 parking spots available along the side. Vehicles getting in and out of parking spots cause issues. Some say there isn’t enough parking. “It does cause backups, people nervous, hesitating, and they just don’t confidently move in and out of the traffic,” said one resident.

Over a two-week span in December 2019, traffic engineers added more green light time on Cape Coral Parkway from Coronado Parkway to South Pointe Boulevard in Fort Myers. They also decreased the amount of green light time on some side streets.

Traffic Engineer Billy Corbett said the results of the test along the 3.4-mile corridor made traffic worse by more than 3 minutes. The city changed the timers back and said they were currently setting the timers in the most efficient way.

USA Today reported that stopping and starting in traffic jams “…burns fuel at a higher rate than the smooth rate of travel on the open highway. This increase in fuel consumption costs commuters additional money for fuel, and it also contributes to the number of emissions released by the vehicles.”

Traffic jams in congested areas often cause a road rage reaction. USA Today says “Road rage is a senseless reaction to traffic that is common in congested traffic areas. If someone is not driving as fast as the person behind him thinks he should, or someone cuts in front of someone else, it can lead to an incident that is dangerous to the offender and those around him on the road. Road rage often manifests itself as shouting matches on the road, intentional tailgating, retaliatory traffic maneuvers, and mostly a lack of attention being paid to the traffic around the people involved. It is basically a temper tantrum by frustrated drivers in traffic.”

Elite Driving School says road rage is a causing factor in vehicle injuries and deaths. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) revealed that “…94 percent of all traffic accidents are caused by driver error. Of those accidents, 33 percent could be linked to behaviors typically assigned to road rage, such as illegal maneuvering or misjudging the intent of another driver.”

“Cape Coral’s investigation of possible solutions to the city’s traffic problems should provide future safety for drivers, pedestrians, and bicycle riders. Should you or a loved one be injured in an accident, please contact our experienced team 24/7. We are always available to assist you, and there are no costs or attorney fees unless we get a monetary recovery for you,” said Fort Myers Car Accident Lawyer Randall Spivey of Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A.

Fort Myers Car Accident Lawyer 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 percent (1%) 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 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 at 239.793.7748.