Lack of enforcement of traffic laws in Bradenton, Manatee County shocking

Traffic backs up on DeSoto Bridge in November 2015 as Bradenton Police investigate the scene of a crash involving a bicyclist and a car on First Street near Manatee Avenue. The bicyclist was taken to the trauma center at Blake Hospital.
TIFFANY TOMPKINS-CONDIE/Bradenton Herald — Traffic backs up on DeSoto Bridge in November 2015 as Bradenton Police investigate the scene of a crash involving a bicyclist and a car on First Street near Manatee Avenue. The bicyclist was taken to the trauma center at Blake Hospital. TIFFANY TOMPKINS-CONDIE/Bradenton Herald ttompkins@bradenton.com

I am a part-time resident of Bradenton and a part-time resident in upstate New York. I am shocked at the lack of traffic law enforcement here.

Speeding, texting and aggressive drivers are the norm. Are we really surprised that there are so many accidents when, quite honestly, I see very little police presence on the road and very few drivers pulled over for violations?

Do we have a lack of funding for enforcement?

I live one block off Manatee Avenue and I see cars, trucks and motorcycles racing at high speeds every day and hear them all night. Allowing aggressive drivers to continue only creates more aggressive drivers.

Do we place such a low value on keeping residents safe on the roads that we are reluctant to put more money toward making our roads safer for all residents?

Pat Ridgeway

Bradenton

This story was originally published March 30, 2016 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Lack of enforcement of traffic laws in Bradenton, Manatee County shocking ."

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