OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. — A young driver says extra lighting is needed along Pleasant Hill Road, between Kissimmee and Poinciana.

What You Need To Know

  • Matthew Montgomery says it’s dark driving on Pleasant Hill Road at night

  • Montgomery wants more street lights to be installed

  • Osceola County says there are 146 lights installed along Pleasant Hill Road, most on the east side, next to the sidewalk

  • The county recently conducted a study on the road, but hasn’t reviewed it to look at changes

Matthew Montgomery, who is 17 years old and has his learner's permit, drives on Pleasant Hill Road to get to and from school.

“If it's stressful during the day, it's worse at night, when it looks like complete darkness,” he says.

Montgomery says learning to drive isn’t easy when there are few street lights along Pleasant Hill Road.

“It's only lit up by old lights only on one side of the road,” Montgomery says.

The teenager says there are very few lights on the west side of Pleasant Hill Road, and those on the east side of the road aren’t very bright, making it challenging to see at night.

Osceola County spokesperson Nicky Vasquez says from Harbor Road down to Poinciana, there are 146 lights installed along Pleasant Hill Road, most on the east side, next to the sidewalk.

“The way I'd fix this is to put brighter LED lighting on both sides of this road,” Montgomery says.

Vasquez says currently there are no plans to install additional lights, but that could change.

“A recent study was conducted along Pleasant Hill Road, focusing on access management, traffic signal warrants and modifications to enhance traffic flow and safety,” Vasquez says.

The study hasn’t been reviewed yet, but if it finds visibility to be a concern at night, more lights could be approved for the road.

“At this time, we do not have plans to install additional lighting along Pleasant Hill Road unless a traffic or lighting study identifies a specific issue requiring attention beyond the general condition of reduced visibility at night,” Vasquez says.

Montgomery says he hopes the study reveals more lights are needed on this busy roadway.

“Out of any road I've driven on, this is the most unsafe,” he says.

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