Operation Best Foot Forward Enhances Pedestrian Safety for Back-to-School Season in Central Florida

The Operation Best Foot Forward campaign is set to launch on July 29, 2025, targeting driver compliance with pedestrian right-of-way laws in school zones across nine Central Florida counties. This initiative, a collaborative effort between the Best Foot Forward for Pedestrian Safety program and local law enforcement, seeks to address the concerning statistic that drivers yield to pedestrians in school zones less than 50% of the time. During the two-week campaign, plainclothes officers will monitor marked crosswalks, particularly near schools and bus stops, issuing citations to drivers who fail to stop for pedestrians as required by Florida law.

The campaign spans Brevard, Flagler, Lake, Orange, Marion, Osceola, Polk, Seminole, and Volusia counties, aligning with the Florida Department of Transportation's Target Zero and local Vision Zero Action Plans to eliminate traffic-related serious injuries and fatalities. The timing of the operation coincides with the back-to-school season, a period when the streets see an increase in pedestrian activity, especially among children and teenagers. According to a 2023 report by the American Academy of Pediatrics, child pedestrian mortality rates have risen by 11% since 2013, highlighting the urgent need for such safety measures.

Vince Dyer, Program Manager of Best Foot Forward for Pedestrian Safety, emphasizes the importance of driver alertness and adherence to crosswalk laws during this critical time. The operation not only enforces the law but also serves as a reminder of the shared responsibility to protect vulnerable road users. For more details on the operation, including specific enforcement locations and times, visit https://www.iyield4peds.org/operationbff/.

Operation Best Foot Forward is part of a broader strategy to enhance road safety through education, enforcement, and engineering. Since its inception in 2012, the program has significantly increased driver compliance with pedestrian right-of-way laws, from 17% to nearly 50%. This progress demonstrates the effectiveness of sustained efforts in fostering a culture of safety and respect among all road users. As the largest pedestrian-focused grassroots coalition in the nation, the Best Foot Forward program continues to lead the way in making Central Florida's streets safer for everyone.