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Residents urge fixes at downtown Beach Drive intersection after recent fatal crash; city staff vows to review signage and flashing options
Summary
Multiple residents and a service coordinator for St. Andrews Towers highlighted poor visibility of stop signs near the Federal Courthouse and Indigo Hotel and urged the city to add flashing signage or other controls. City staff said police and public works will review signs and consider flashing stop signs or other modifications.
Several residents on May 27 urged the Panama City Commission to take immediate action at a downtown Beach Drive intersection where a recent fatal crash exposed visibility problems with stop signage and heavy pedestrian use.
Darby Paley, service coordinator for St. Andrews Towers, brought photos to illustrate obstructed views of the stop signs where Beach Drive meets a cross street near the Federal Courthouse and Indigo Hotel. “You cannot see the stop sign at all, period,” Paley told the commission, saying palm trees and a light pole block sight lines and that children from a nearby elementary school walk through the intersection without traffic slowing.
Bill Kinsall, a resident on West Beach Drive, and Colin Hamilton of Landmark Condominium also told the commission cars continue to “fly” through that stretch to beat traffic, creating a safety concern for pedestrians and landscape workers.
City Manager Jonathan Hayes acknowledged the seriousness of the recent fatality and said staff — including the police department and public works — is evaluating options. “There is some empirical data that shows that 4 way stops are more safer than a signalized intersection,” Hayes said, and added the city will consider signage modifications including flashing stop signs to increase awareness. Hayes said the city has a yellow “stop sign ahead” caution sign currently posted and would investigate additional measures.
Chief Mark Smith (Panama City Police Department) and public works staff were referenced in discussion; Hayes said staff would work with police to identify signage locations and possible flashing devices already used elsewhere in the city. No formal ordinance or council motion was made; staff said they would pursue short‑term signage changes and evaluate longer‑term engineering solutions.
