As students in Central Florida gear up for a new school year starting August 12, local law enforcement is taking steps to ensure pedestrian safety with the launch of Operation Best Foot Forward. The back-to-school safety campaign, which began this Tuesday, involves patrolling and monitoring crosswalks, particularly those situated close to schools, as reported by WFTV.
Statistics from Walk/Bike Central Florida highlight concerns, with drivers yielding to pedestrians in crosswalks near schools only 45% of the time, these intersections become a focal point for potential danger as thousands of young students begin their trek to classrooms according to FOX 35 Orlando.
The consequences for drivers who fail to observe the laws and stop for pedestrians are significant: a minimum fine of $164 and three points on their license, which can lead to higher insurance rates and the possibility of license suspension with an accumulation of violations. Plainclothes officers have been enlisted to walk in marked crosswalks, monitoring if drivers come to a complete stop and enforcing penalties when necessary.
"We’ve seen improvement, and you can see it’s a partnership," Orange County District 2 Commissioner Christine Moore stated in an interview, as per FOX 35 Orlando.
