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First Operation Best Foot Forward in Seminole County the largest in program history

It was an amazing day. Thanks to the BFF partners, Tuesday, Feb. 18th will go down in history as the largest, saturated crosswalk enforcement operation since Best Foot Forward launched in 2012. It’s probably the largest crosswalk operation ever conducted in the state of Florida. 
A big THANK YOU to Best Foot Forward enforcement partners who reminded drivers that Seminole is SERIOUS about safety. Kudos to the seven agencies who conducted crosswalk enforcement at 19 locations started at 7:00 am until 4:00 pm.
  • Altamonte Springs Police Department
  • Casselberry Police Department
  • Longwood Police Department
  • Oviedo Police Department
  • Sanford Police Department
  • Winter Springs Police Department
  • Seminole County Sheriff’s Office
Enforcement Citations & Warnings 
A total of 393 written warnings and citations were issued to those drivers who failed to yield, stop and remain stopped for pedestrians to cross in a crosswalk, as Florida law requires.
A few notable highlights from today:
Seminole County Commissioner Bob Dallari kicked off Altamonte Police Department’s first crosswalk enforcement operation of the day at 7:30 am, along with WFTV.  Check out Commissioner Dallari interview on  WDBO interview Commissioner Dallari – Altamonte  And, both he and PIO Michelle Sosa were featured in Facebook Live that ran on Best Foot Forward’s Facebook Page and shared by MetroPlan Orlando and other partners. City of Oviedo Councilwoman Judith Smith joined the BFF team at the Alafaya Woods crosswalk to see first-hand what an enforcement looks like. Students from Rollins College observed BFF in action at the Sanford crosswalks and will participate in data collection early in March.

Altamonte Springs, Central Pkwy and Mall Entrance: Commissioner Dallari and Altamonte Police Department officers

Altamonte Springs, Central Pkwy and Mall Entrance: Commissioner Dallari made an appearance in support of Operation BFF.

Altamonte Springs, Central Pkwy and Mall Entrance: Altamonte police officers waved drivers onto a side street where they can safely give them a citation for not yielding to pedestrians in marked crosswalks. Courtesy of MetroPlan.

Altamonte Springs, Central Pkwy and Mall Entrance: Altamonte Police wrote citations for drivers who didn't yield to pedestrians in marked crosswalks.

Altamonte Springs, Central Pkwy and Mall Entrance: with Commissioner Dallari and Altamonte police

Altamonte Springs, Central Pkwy and Mall Entrance: with Commissioner Dallari and Altamonte police

Altamonte Springs, Central Pkwy and Mall Entrance: with Bike/Walk Central Florida Executive Director Amanda Day and intern Amber Pellicone, courtesy of MetroPlan

Altamonte Springs, Central Pkwy and Mall Entrance with Altamonte Police

Altamonte Springs, Central Pkwy and Mall Entrance with Altamonte Police

Longwood, Church Ave and Myrtle St: with Longwood police officers

Longwood, Church Ave and Myrtle St: Longwood police ready to enforce yielding for pedestrians in marked crosswalks

Longwood, Church Ave and Myrtle St: with Longwood Police

Longwood, Church Ave and Myrtle St: Certain signs that mark crosswalks align with certain pedestrian safety statutes. Law enforcement officers like the Longwood Police are experts on the subject - and invaluable members of the BFF coalition.

Longwood, Church Ave and Myrtle St with Longwood police officers

Longwood, Ronald Reagan Blvd and Church Ave: The button for this crosswalk is missing. Longwood police said this post has been replaced many times from crashes at this intersection.

Seminole County, Dike Rd and Lake Howell High School: Students regularly cross a busy road to get to school. Operation BFF encourages drivers to regularly yield for these young pedestrians.

Seminole County, Dike Rd and Lake Howell High School: A Seminole County school bus stopped for a student crossing the street.

Seminole County, International Pkwy and the Westin Hotel: with a BFF volunteer and two Seminole County Sheriff deputies

Seminole County, International Pkwy and the Westin Hotel with two Seminole County Sheriff deputies

Winter Springs, SR 434 and Edgemon Ave with Winter Springs police officers

Featured Image

Sanford, E Airport Blvd and S Park Ave: Sanford police officer issuing a citation

Sanford, E Airport Blvd and S Park Ave with Sanford Police

Sanford, Oregon Ave and Bentley Elementary School: A woman near Bentley Elementary School walked over to hug a Sanford Police sergeant and thank him for working a crosswalk crackdown to bring awareness to drivers on this street. This is why we do what we do.

Sanford, E Airport Blvd and S Park Ave: A reporter from WMFE interviews a Sanford Police officer.

Sanford, Oregon Ave and Bently Elementary School: with a BFF volunteers and Sanford Police officers

Casselberry, Button Rd and Seminola Blvd: with BFF volunteers and Casselberry Police

Altamonte Springs, E Central Pkwy and Altamira Cir with Altamonte Springs Police

Altamonte Springs, Central Pkwy and Mall Entrance: with Altamonte Police, courtesy of MetroPlan

Altamonte Springs, E Central Pkwy and Altamira Cir: A small wave of thanks is in order when a driver stops for this Altamonte police officer in the crosswalk.

Altamonte Springs, E Central Pkwy and Altamira Cir: Altamonte Police officers communicate about drivers who haven't yielded for pedestrians in the crosswalk.

Altamonte Springs, E Altamonte Dr and Montgomery Rd with BFF volunteer and Orlando Health partner

Altamonte Springs, E Altamonte Dr and Montgomery Rd: with Orlando Health partner

Altamonte Springs, E Altamonte Dr and Montgomery Rd: Altamonte Police work to make crosswalks safer for all road users by enforcing Florida's driver yield law.

Altamonte Springs, E Altamonte Dr and Montgomery Rd with Altamonte Springs Police

Oviedo, Alafaya Woods Blvd and Alafaya Woods Pkwy: with Oviedo police officer and Oviedo Councilwoman Smith

Oviedo, Alafaya Woods Blvd and Alafaya Woods Pkwy: An Oviedo police officer measures out where to place caution cones. The cones mark enough distance for cars to stop for pedestrians in the crosswalk.

Oviedo, Alafaya Woods Blvd and Alafaya Woods Pkwy: with Oviedo Councilwoman Smith and BFF volunteers

Oviedo, Lockwood Blvd at Riverside Skate Park with BFF volunteer

Oviedo, Lockwood Blvd at Riverside Skate Park with Oviedo Police

Oviedo, Lockwood Blvd at Riverside Skate Park: These drivers failed to obey the Florida yield law requiring drivers to stop for pedestrians in crosswalks.

Altamonte, W Town Pkwy and Bunnell Rd: with BFF volunteer and Altamonte Police

MetroPlan Orlando’s communications team, Cynthia Lambert, Mary Ann Horne, and Leilani Vaiaoga, worked their magic and captured enforcement in action at multiple crosswalk locations. Be sure you go to MetroPlan Orlando’s Twitter or Facebook pages because these three carry the big cameras, with BIG lenses and shoot incredible pictures.  See all in action here – https://twitter.com/BestFootCFL Or, check out a BFF Instagram Story created by the newest intern, Amber: https://www.instagram.com/stories/highlights/18043373707231531/
Media coverage was amazing, even in light of several breaking news stories that pulled a few TV stations from covering the operation ‘live.’ Click here to see the latest media coverage.

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