Dear Editor:
A News-Gazette article by Ken Jackson (“Osceola to launch school zone traffic safety program in ’25,” Dec. 12) discussed traffic safety for students. The topic focused on the law allowing the use of speed cameras in school zones to help protect students.
Safe roads depend on the partnership of both citizens and our local governments. Therefore, our officials need to ensure that road signs are put in places that comply with Uniform Traffic Control (MUTCD) regulations endorsed by Florida.
In St. Cloud, many crosswalk signs are improperly posted; MUTCD prohibits the crosswalk signs located at intersections having a traffic signal. In addition, dozens of our crosswalks include an In-Street Pedestrian Crossing sign wrongly mounted on a roadside post. The In-Street sign is only for in-street placement.
Unfortunately, there are other sign issues in this city and throughout the area that are improper. St. Cloud has extreme signage clutter. The wrong spot for signs can cause confusion for drivers and lead to safety issues.
Student safety and all pedestrian safety should improve with reduced vehicle speeds. Also, safe conditions need crosswalk sign locations that comply with current regulations.
Gary Lukat
St. Cloud
