Driving on the beach in Volusia County is a longtime tradition, and the recent deaths of two 4-year-olds on county beaches doesn’t appear likely to change anything, as three mayors came out strongly against any efforts to ban the practice, news-journalonline.com reports.

   Forty-six pedestrians have been hit by vehicles on Volusia beaches since 2005, and about a third were 7 or younger, the website said.

   “The county should spend the money to educate the public and the toll takers about (existing) no driving areas,” New Smyrna Beach Mayor Adam Barringer said. “We don’t need government taking away another of our freedoms. … There has to be some parental responsibility.”