Crosswalk Crackdown with OPD and OCSO

The Orlando Police Department (OPD) and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO) were out this morning to enforce six marked crosswalks across Orlando, reminding drivers that Florida’s yield laws require them to yield to pedestrians in marked crosswalks.

Decoy officers dressed in plain clothes crossed the street in the enforced crosswalks, giving drivers enough time to yield. Anyone who did not yield was pulled over and given a warning or citation as well as an explanation of the driver yield law.

OPD and OCSO enforced at six crosswalks starting at 7 a.m. and finishing at 11 a.m. – of these six marked crosswalks, two were enforced for the first time.

Enforced crosswalks include:

• Columbia St. & Kuhl Ave. – Speed limit: 25mph – OPD – NEW
• Pine Street, East of Rosalind Ave. (302 E. Pine Street) – Speed limit: 25mph – OPD
• International Dr. & Austrian Ct. – Speed limit: 35mph – OCSO
• Pine Hills Rd. & El Trio Way – Speed limit: 40mph – OCSO
• Waterford Chase Pkwy. & Oak Chase Dr. – Speed limit: 30mph – OCSO
• Summerlin Ave & Washington St. – Speed limit: 25mph – OPD – NEW

These crosswalks were chosen for their heavy foot traffic and close proximity to schools and neighborhoods.

A great start to #OperationBFF at Columbia St. & Kuhl Ave. Huge thanks to our BFFs for joining us – BWCF Board Member, Frank Gilbert, Adriana Patel with @orlandohealth and Ian Sikonia, a Senior Planner w/ @citybeautiful. Of course, can’t forget our great @orlandopolice team! pic.twitter.com/PPoXQ8w7lG

— Best Foot Forward (@BestFootOrlando) June 13, 2018

OPD kicked off today’s “Crosswalk Crackdown” at the newly enforced crosswalk on the Orlando Health Campus, at Columbia Street and Kuhl Avenue. Orlando Health employees cross at this intersection daily, going to and from work.

From 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., OCSO enforced the crosswalk at North Pine Hills Road & El Trio Way, which has been monitored since 2014. In four years, the driver yield rate has risen from 10% to 21%.

A resident of the Pine Hills area (pictured above) spoke to WESH 2’s Hadas Brown about how often drivers almost hit him while he is in a crosswalk. The resident described a close call only a week earlier, when a driver turning right slammed their brakes to avoid hitting him, while in the car behind, another driver honked impatiently.

A total of 15 citations and 2 warnings were issued at North Pine Hills Road and El Trio Way.

We asked him about crossing E. Pine St: “It used to be the most dangerous part of my day….it’s gotten better.”

Engineering, education and enforcement at work! #TripleEApproach #OperationBFF #iY4Peds @citybeautiful @OrlandoPolice pic.twitter.com/xTHTcTswdf

— Best Foot Forward (@BestFootOrlando) June 13, 2018

BFFers also heard from a local at the East Pine Street crosswalk who commented that crossing there, “Used to be the most dangerous part of [his] day, but it’s gotten better.” This crosswalk was first enforced in February 2018.

The ultimate goal of enforcement is to further increase driver yield dates, and improve safety for people walking in crosswalks.

Check back soon for a full media recap from today’s operation.  Stay safe on the roads and remember to yield for pedestrians!

Thank you to OPD and OCSO for doing your part today.