Wildfires and Fog Have a History of I-4 Auto Crashes

Last week’s 70 car crash pileup caused by dense fog and a controlled burn wildfire wasn’t the first time a tragedy occurred in the Lakeland section of I-4. According to a story reported in the Lakeland Ledger, there have been 11 such fatalities since 1974. The low lying area is prone to dense fog. When the fog is coupled with a fire, the I-4 road becomes a terrible hazard. With this history, it seems officials should have been proactive in closing I-4. There have been no significant changes in I-4 safety measures since 1974. Other states such as Tennessee have encountered similar problems with fog and smoke and have taken steps such as installing signs and fog/smoke monitoring systems. Florida has not taken such steps.