DEBARY, Fla. – Residents along Azalea Drive in DeBary are calling for safety improvements, saying ongoing speeding and reckless driving have made the roadway increasingly dangerous for both drivers and pedestrians.
Neighbors say the issue has persisted for years, with motorists frequently using the road as a shortcut and, at times, treating it like a “raceway.”
“There’s a lot of speeding, a lot of carelessness,” Ashley Gonz said. “Animals get hit right here.”
Concerns intensified after a recent crash involving a Volusia County Sheriff’s deputy. According to the sheriff’s office, the deputy was traveling along Azalea when an oncoming vehicle entered her lane. The deputy slowed to a stop but was unable to move off the roadway due to a mailbox. The other driver sideswiped the patrol vehicle. Authorities said the other driver was found at fault, but officials say it wasn’t for speeding.
For some residents, the crash underscores a broader pattern of unsafe driving in the area.
“There is nothing I can do to try to prevent it,” said Gonz, who has tried placing cones along the road and even standing outside to slow drivers. “People don’t seem to care.”
Residents say the problem is particularly concerning given the presence of a nearby school, which brings increased traffic and more children to the area.
“It’s very dangerous,” Gonz said. “You have a lot of kids right here. They come out and ride their bikes, and you have cars swerving.”
Some neighbors are urging the city to install safety measures such as speed bumps or “Children at Play” signs, while others say drivers simply need to slow down and be more attentive—especially around a curve in the road that residents say is a frequent trouble spot.
News 6 reached out to city officials to see if any specific safety plans along the street are being considered, as residents said they hope action is taken before someone is seriously injured.
“The City receives input from many residents across different streets on a regular basis, and we are required to rely on consistent data, traffic studies, and community-wide feedback when evaluating any potential changes. We make decisions based on a comprehensive view of safety and effectiveness, rather than any one isolated comment or conversation, as these typically do not take into account verified facts or traffic law.
For example, prior to any traffic calming tools being installed, we are required to do traffic studies and other measures. To my knowledge, we have not received any requests for this street. During your story the suggestion of a speed bump was discussed.
However, speed bumps are not currently part of the City’s traffic management strategy. Studies and real-world experience have shown that they are often not effective at addressing long-term speeding concerns and can create unintended issues, including impacts to emergency response times, increased noise, and resident vehicle wear.
Instead, the City evaluates concerns on a case-by-case basis and works with law enforcement and traffic engineering tools that are proven to be more effective and appropriate for maintaining safety in residential areas.
We encourage residents to report concerns to the city, not social media, so we can monitor patterns and respond with the most effective solutions available.”
City of DeBary