Nassau County leaders work on plan to keep families safe at beaches

NASSAU COUNTY, Fla. — Keeping you and your family safe at the beaches – that’s the goal Nassau County leaders are working towards now that two people have been run over by cars while sunbathing.

“Every time I closed my eyes I saw tires comin’ at my head. And it still happens,” said Amanda Gonzalez told CBS News. She was hit by a car while sunbathing at Peter’s Point in Fernandina Beach. A few weeks later on the same beach, a security camera captured the moment a SUV hit another sunbather.

“It has focused our thoughts on we have to make sure that we’ve got a good system for parking, beach driving that accommodates our residents and visitors,” said Gil Langley, CEO and president for Amelia Island Convention and Visitor’s Bureau.

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Monday night, county commissioners and other county leaders got together to work on a plan about the safety of the beaches – it’s one of several meetings that’s been open to the public.

“We’re going to have more pressure on our beaches, and we need to start addressing those issues instead of down the road,” said Langley.

While nothing is set in stone, commissioners and beach group leaders talked about at least five main changes that could be made – that includes adding beach cameras, and deputies on the beach, changing speed limits and where cars can go, and creating a permit system to identify people who are driving on the beach.

The commissioners will meet again July 24 at 5:30 p.m.

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Cox Media Group