Boaters traveling through a two-mile stretch of the Intracoastal through Fort Lauderdale will have to slow down with new speed zones approved late last year in response to a teen’s death over the summer.
The maximum speed limit for the corridor of the Intracoastal between the Oakland Park Boulevard Bridge and the East Sunrise Boulevard Bridge was 25 mph. But new rules approved by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission require boaters to slow their vessels to 5 to 9 mph.
“This new boating zone is about protecting people, property and the natural environment,” Fort Lauderdale City Manager Rickelle Williams said in a statement. “By slowing down in this area, boaters will have more time to react, avoid accidents and ensure everyone can enjoy our beautiful waterway safely.”…