During council comments at the November 3 Destin City Council meeting, Councilwoman Sandy Trammell requested staff study reducing the speed limit on Kelly Street near the city’s elementary school.
- Trammell said she spent most of the week traveling on Kelly Street and noticed the speed limit remains 30 mph in front of the elementary school.
“I noticed that the speed limit on Kelly Street is 30 miles an hour – right in front of our elementary school – and we haven’t even lowered the speed limit,” Trammell said.
She proposed staff examine reducing the speed limit to 25 mph on Kelly Street from Main Street to Benning Drive to Sibert Avenue. The area serves students going to school and families accessing nearby ballparks.
- “There are people all over – all the time – using the school property there, kids and adults,” Trammell said.
The city does implement reduced speed limits during school hours.
History of speed concerns
The Kelly Street corridor has been a focus for speed enforcement concerns. In November 2023, the council approved installing flashing stop signs on Kelly Street at its intersection with Spring Lake due to speeding issues.
During a December 2023 presentation to the council, Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office Captain Jason Fulghum said Destin has speed problems, noting that data ranked per-capita speeding in Destin in the top 25% statewide.
- “We do have a speeding problem in Destin. We have this problem with speed and aggressive driving,” Fulghum said.
A speed study conducted on Kelly Street between Main Street and Beach Drive in 2023 found the average speed was 32 mph. The study also recorded one vehicle traveling at 90 mph at 2 a.m., though Fulghum said the chances of catching such drivers with targeted enforcement were “so remote that it’s not worth spending another $879.”
The sheriff’s office obtained an overtime grant for additional targeted speed enforcement at no cost to the city or county.
Next steps
Trammell said she would like staff to conduct a speed study for reducing the speed limit in front of the school. Mayor Pro Tem Dewey Destin suggested sending the matter to public works and safety for a recommendation. Trammell made a motion to that effect, which passed unanimously.
