If you’ve driven along St. Lucie West Boulevard during rush hour, you’ve likely seen the line of cars piling up in the intersection when drivers fail to clear the light as it turns green.
Now, the Port St. Lucie Police Department is cracking down on drivers who “block the box”—the area inside an intersection that must remain clear.
Rush-hour traffic is already slow, but when vehicles stop in the middle of intersections, they create gridlock and delays for everyone on the road.
“Everyone is in a hurry depending on how their day has gone, and people want to get to their destination. So they’re going to run every light they can,” said Darlene Mahler, a Port St. Lucie resident.
Police say that by trying to squeeze through the intersection and tailgating the car in front, drivers are actually disrupting the flow of cross traffic.
“People are so self-centered that they only care about themselves and don’t think about others, which makes things harder for everyone,” said commuter Cyrus Postis.
To address the issue, Port St. Lucie police are increasing enforcement in busy areas along St. Lucie West Boulevard. Their message: “Don’t block the box!”
“It’s something that needs to be done so people realize, you know what? You’re not the only one in line,” Mahler said.
Photos posted on the department’s Facebook page show long lines of vehicles stopped in the middle of intersections.
Image: Wfla
