Operation Best Foot Forward Returns to Central Florida to Enhance Pedestrian Safety

As the back-to-school season nears, Central Florida is gearing up for the return of Operation Best Foot Forward, a pivotal campaign designed to bolster pedestrian safety. Scheduled from July 29 to August 8, 2025, this initiative targets the enhancement of driver awareness and adherence to Florida's pedestrian right-of-way laws, with a special focus on school zones and areas near school bus stops. Covering nine counties, including Brevard, Flagler, and Orange, the operation will utilize plainclothes officers to oversee crosswalks and penalize drivers who fail to comply with the law.

The campaign's necessity is highlighted by a concerning statistic: less than half of drivers yield to pedestrians in school zones. This disregard for pedestrian safety has contributed to an 11% rise in child pedestrian fatalities since 2013, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Operation Best Foot Forward aims to counteract this trend through a comprehensive approach that includes enforcement, education, and engineering solutions, all aimed at cultivating a safer and more responsible road culture.

Vince Dyer, the Program Manager of Best Foot Forward for Pedestrian Safety, stresses the critical need for driver alertness during this time. 'The increase in students walking, biking, or using other non-vehicle methods to get to school makes it imperative for all road users to follow the law and stay vigilant for pedestrians,' Dyer remarked. Since its launch in 2012, the Best Foot Forward coalition has made significant strides, improving driver yielding rates from a mere 17% to nearly 50%.

For those seeking more details about the operation, including specific enforcement locations and schedules, further information can be found at https://www.iyield4peds.org/operationbff/. This effort is a crucial component of the Florida Department of Transportation's Target Zero and local Vision Zero Action Plans, which strive to eradicate serious injuries and deaths caused by traffic incidents.