- December 4, 2025
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Every town has its “problem intersections” where accidents are more common and drivers and pedestrians should urge caution.
But in Longboat Key, the “problem” isn’t very serious. Since July 2023, there have been just 21 accidents at the five most frequent accident locations, according to data obtained by the Longboat Observer. Town manager Howard Tipton attributes the pleasantly low accident numbers in part to an appropriate speed limit. Coming onto the 11-mile key, the speed limit is 35 mph and increases to 45 mph at the most.
Gulf of Mexico Drive is the main thoroughfare on the Key and is the only way on or off the island (for land-based vehicles). With just one main road, it’s easy for police to monitor potentially dangerous drivers coming on or off the key. And Longboat Key Police Department captain Bob Bourque said the visibility of police on that road helps calm traffic.
“We’re out there. We’re visible,” Bourque said. “Very rarely are you going to drive down Gulf of Mexico Drive in Longboat Key and not see a police car somewhere on it. Usually you’re going to see multiple police cars. That visibility is very important.”
One thing that could help traffic flow better, Tipton said, is drivers practicing a bit more patience.
“The biggest problem we have are people who get tired of waiting,” Tipton said. “So when traffic is bad, it can take a while to kind of work your way or cross over. Thankfully, we have turning lanes down most of the island. Adding that turning lane on the south end, which is that project that’s under construction right now, I think will also help to allow traffic, especially southbound to kind of keep flowing.”
There is traffic at times, though, turn lane or no turn lane. During season traffic can get backed up halfway down the key in either direction trying to get off the island, Tipton says.
“It can be quite the quagmire,” Tipton said.
That quagmire may actually serve as a safeguard against more accidents.
“A third of the year, it’s difficult to go (the speed limit) because of the traffic,” Tipton said. “When you’re only going 25 miles per hour or 30 miles per hour, it’s even harder to get in an accident.”
Unsurprisingly, all of the intersections that have seen the most accidents have one street name in common. The intersection of Gulf of Mexico Drive and Harbourside Drive has had the most accidents in the past two years, with seven accidents occurring since July 2023.
“A majority of those crashes (at that intersection) are people pulling out from the neighborhood and turning left going south on GMD,” Bourque said. “But when you’ve got a lot of traffic, they find a little opening and they take off and don't necessarily see another car going south.”
The intersection of Gulf of Mexico Drive and Bay Isles Parkway has had the second most accidents, five. Three other Gulf of Mexico Drive intersections are tied for third most with three accidents since July, 2023 — Bogey Lane, North Shore Road and Longboat Club Road.
“People would give their right arm to have some of our problems out here,” Tipton said with a laugh after looking at those numbers. “It’s great to have a community of safe drivers.”
None of the accidents at the top five intersections have resulted in any fatalities, Bourque confirmed.
