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Tampa Police Identify Most Dangerous Spots To Drive

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By VALERIE KALFRIN | The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 31, 2008

TAMPA - Winding lanes, multiple exits and impatient drivers make Memorial Highway near Interstate 275 one of the most dangerous areas in the city for motorists, police said today.

There have been eight crashes in the past 90 days at this spot, ranking it eighth among the city's 10 worst intersections, police spokeswoman Andrea Davis said.

The worst is North Habana and West Hillsborough avenues, with 14 wrecks in the past 90 days, Davis said.

In general, two areas are hazardous to drivers: the Hillsborough Avenue corridor – with four locations on the top-ten list – and Memorial Highway between the Courtney Campbell Parkway and the interstate, Davis said.

With the latter, "people are trying to jump three to four lanes to exit around other people going 20 to 30 miles over the speed limit," she said.

The department's traffic squad has patrolled around Memorial Highway this week. It issued about 70 citations Tuesday, most for speeding, Davis said.

The squad chooses its areas of focus based on traffic crashes and complaints from the public, Davis said.

Here are the most dangerous intersections, according to the Tampa Police Department, with the number of crashes within the past 90 days:

1) North Habana and West Hillsborough avenues, 14

2) North Florida and East Waters avenues, 9

3) North Himes and West Hillsborough avenues, 9

4) North Nebraska Avenue and East Busch Boulevard, 9

5) North Armenia and West Hillsborough avenues, 8

6) North Armenia and West Waters avenues, 8

7) West Kennedy Boulevard and South Dale Mabry Highway, 8

8) Memorial Highway and Interstate 275, 8

9) North 15th Street and East Fowler Avenue, 7

10) East Hillsborough Avenue and North 40th Street, 7

Reporter Valerie Kalfrin can be reached at (813) 259-7800 or vkalfrin@tampatrib.com.

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