SR-82 treated like a racetrack by some drivers

Three arrests were made in one week, as some drivers continue to treat SR-82 like Daytona International Speedway.

Arrests from the past week include racing on highways and/or reckless driving with speeds as high as 130 mph in a 55 mph zone. Recently, a mustang in Lehigh Acres was clocked going 114 mph on SR-82.

Neighbors just off the road are saddened but not surprised to see it.

“You hear racing up and down the 82. Day and night,” an anonymous neighbor said.

They say the noise and danger are constantly present.

“We’re gonna hear somebody crash, we know we’re gonna hear it. We’re just waiting for that moment to hear it,” an anonymous neighbor said.

Lieutenant Greg Bueno with the Florida Highway Patrol said street racing is an ongoing issue everywhere, but especially on SR 82, which some have started calling a racetrack.

“It’s certainly prevalent, and it’s concerning, because if one of those vehicles loses control,
strikes another vehicle, there’s going to be an awful tragedy,” Bueno said.

FHP said there had been a least five incidents on SR 82 alone in the past four months where people have been arrested for racing on the highway and/or reckless driving. Drivers have been witnessed going up to 130 mph in a 55 mph zone.

Bueno says it’s endangering so many more people than just the drivers.

“State Road 82 is a community roadway; we have school buses on that road, bicycles, pedestrians, grandparents, wives, husbands, sons, daughters,” Bueno said.

“If you’re a person who just has to have the need of speed, then go to a racetrack, go to some controlled setting where you can do it and not endanger other people’s lives,” Bueno said.

FHP said to remember that street racing and reckless driving are both against the law and will earn you jail time at the very least.