Operation Best Foot Forward Aims to Enhance Pedestrian Safety as School Season Begins

The Operation Best Foot Forward campaign is set to launch on July 29, 2025, across nine Central Florida counties, aiming to address the critical issue of pedestrian safety, particularly in school zones. With drivers yielding to pedestrians less than 50% of the time, this initiative seeks to enforce Florida law requiring drivers to stop for pedestrians in marked crosswalks. Violators will face a minimum $164 citation and three points on their driver’s license.

This high-visibility operation, running until August 8, 2025, will involve plainclothes officers crossing streets at selected crosswalks near schools and school bus stops. The campaign is part of a broader effort to align with the Florida Department of Transportation’s Target Zero and local Vision Zero Action Plans, which aim to eliminate traffic-related serious injuries and fatalities.

A 2023 report from the American Academy of Pediatrics highlights an 11% increase in child pedestrian mortality rates since 2013, underscoring the urgency of such initiatives. Vince Dyer, Program Manager of Best Foot Forward for Pedestrian Safety, emphasizes the importance of driver alertness and compliance with crosswalk laws, especially during the back-to-school season when streets become busier with students walking, biking, or rolling to class.

Operation Best Foot Forward represents a comprehensive approach to road safety, combining enforcement, education, and engineering measures to foster a culture of respect and accountability among drivers. For more details on the operation, including an interactive map of enforcement locations, visit https://www.iyield4peds.org/operationbff/.