Commissioner Steve Stroberger emphasizes immediate danger, while Sheriff Chip Simmons’ data suggests a broader perspective is needed.
Two local officials presented starkly different assessments of Sorrento Road’s safety crisis during a June 30 town hall meeting, revealing the complexity behind a corridor that has generated significant community concern and over 116 accidents since January 2024.
Commissioner Stroberger: “It’s Not Safe”
Commissioner Stroberger didn’t mince words about the road’s dangers, describing it in urgent terms that reflected deep personal concern.
“It’s red throughout the whole thing… So it’s not a safe spot on the road out there. It’s not safe,” Stroberger said, referencing heat maps showing accident locations. “I’ve asked my wife not to travel that road at night, Sorrento, because it’s [dangerous].”
- Drawing from his aviation background, Stroberger compared local drivers to experienced pilots who become overconfident. “The most dangerous group is the most experienced group,” he explained. “They have a wealth of flying experience, and they’ve started to fly a little bit less… So they may get a little complacent. That’s the most dangerous group.”
He applied this directly to driving habits: “We are that group of experienced drivers, and maybe we have gotten a little complacent too. That’s why we’ve got people going 80 miles per hour on Sorrento.”
Sheriff Simmons: The Data Tells Another Story
Sheriff Chip Simmons offered a more measured perspective, backed by comparative crash data that challenged common assumptions about Sorrento Road’s unique danger.
“Over the past couple of months, (Florida Highway Patrol officers) have worked 86 traffic crashes on Lillian, and they have worked 40 traffic crashes on Sorrento,” Simmons reported. “I’m not trying to make it one way. I’m not trying to make it the other way. I’m simply telling you what we know based on the statistics.”
- His speed enforcement data revealed surprising results: “94% of the cars that drove by there were going under the speed limit, 94% of the cars.”
Most significantly, Simmons’ investigation into recent fatalities pointed to substance abuse rather than speed as the primary culprit.
- “Speed itself is not the cause of these fatalities. It is drugs. It is DUI. It is being under the influence,” he stated. “That’s why we, as a sheriff’s office, have prioritized fentanyl.”
The Disconnect
Stroberger’s approach treats Sorrento Road as exceptionally dangerous and focuses on changing driver behavior through awareness and enforcement.
Simmons’ approach suggests that the road’s reputation may exceed its actual statistical danger compared to other local roads, and that the real solutions lie in addressing substance abuse and infrastructure improvements rather than focusing solely on speed enforcement.
- Simmons highlighted design flaws: “A very long, dark straight roadway without improved shoulders is very much a challenge.”
Community members echoed these concerns, with one resident describing the road conditions: “We’ve got potholes, we’ve got bumps. When they repair it, we get a bump. If we don’t have a bump, we have a hole.”
Both officials acknowledged the harsh financial reality. Stroberger explained that current improvement projects remain unfunded: “Right now we’re still seeking money just for the design, just for the design.”
- With 370 regional projects totaling $13 billion and less than $500 million available, substantial improvements remain years away.
Moving Forward
The contrasting perspectives highlight a key challenge in public safety policy: striking a balance between public perception and statistical reality.
While Stroberger calls for immediate behavioral changes and increased caution, Simmons’ data suggests focusing resources on infrastructure improvements and substance abuse enforcement rather than traditional traffic enforcement.
Both approaches will be necessary as the community continues advocating for long-term solutions to make Sorrento Road safer for everyone.
- Additionally, Commissioner Stroberger may need to conduct more thorough research on issues before his District 1 town halls. Residents appear less interested in his personal reflections and want more facts on issues, suggesting that Stroberger should share the microphone more with subject matter experts and county department heads.