Expanding Pedestrian Safety Across Central Florida: Best Foot Forward Launches in Flagler, Lake, and Polk Counties

The Best Foot Forward (BFF) program is kicking off 2025 with exciting news: an expansion into Flagler, Lake, and Polk counties! This growth is a testament to the program’s success and ongoing commitment to reducing pedestrian injuries and fatalities across Central Florida. Supported by funding from the Florida Department of Transportation’s (FDOT) Target Zero initiative and the Volusia Flagler Transportation Planning Organization (TPO), this expansion brings new opportunities to transform high-risk areas into safer, more connected communities. 

Why Flagler, Lake, and Polk Counties?

Flagler, Lake, and Polk Counties face significant pedestrian and cyclist safety challenges, making them priority areas for Best Foot Forward’s expansion. 

(Source: Signal4Analytics)

• Flagler County: In 2022, Flagler County reported 83 pedestrian and cyclist crashes, resulting in four serious injuries and three fatalities. These numbers rose in 2023, with 99 crashes, 11 serious injuries, and five fatalities. 

• Lake County: In 2022, Lake County recorded 252 crashes, 29 serious injuries, and 14 fatalities. By 2023, these numbers increased to 269 crashes, 31 serious injuries, and 14 fatalities, underscoring the need for comprehensive safety measures. 

• Polk County: Ranked 21st in Dangerous by Design, Polk County reported 624 pedestrian and cyclist crashes, 58 serious injuries, and 30 fatalities in 2022. Alarmingly, these figures climbed in 2023 to 651 crashes, 55 serious injuries, and 40 fatalities. 

This upward trend in incidents across all three counties emphasizes the critical need for Best Foot Forward’s proven safety interventions to protect vulnerable road users and create safer, more connected communities. 

Target Zero, A Shared Vision for Safer Roads 

The Best Foot Forward program aligns with FDOT’s Target Zero initiative, which aims to eliminate traffic-related fatalities and serious injuries on Florida’s roadways. By focusing on engineering, enforcement, and education, BFF equips communities with the tools they need to protect vulnerable road users like pedestrians and cyclists. FDOT’s sponsorship of the Lake and Polk counties reflects its commitment to making pedestrian safety a top priority, while the Volusia Flagler TPO’s support underscores the local importance of these efforts in Flagler County. 

Building on Success in Brevard, Marion, & Volusia Counties

The program expansion in 2025 builds on significant achievements in Brevard, Marion, and Volusia Counties throughout 2024. In the first year of program activities, driver yield rates improved at 11 crosswalks by an average of 18% through both engineering and enforcement. Another 23 crosswalks saw an 11% increase in yield rates due to enforcement alone. These measurable successes demonstrate how data-driven strategies can save lives and set the stage for similar outcomes in Flagler, Polk, Lake, and beyond. 

A Regional Commitment to Safety

The Best Foot Forward program has consistently demonstrated its ability to create safer streets and save lives, and its regional growth continues to reflect this commitment. In 2024, the program successfully expanded into Brevard, Volusia, and Marion counties, with significant milestones achieved in each area. These expansions have already resulted in enhanced crosswalk enforcement operations, infrastructure improvements, and increased driver yield rates at key crosswalks, proving the program’s effectiveness in reducing pedestrian injuries and fatalities. 

Building on this momentum, the 2025 expansion into Flagler, Lake, and Polk counties represents another critical step forward. By engaging these new communities, Best Foot Forward is addressing high-risk areas for pedestrian crashes and providing local leaders with actionable solutions. Efforts in these counties will focus on partnering with law enforcement to conduct crosswalk enforcement operations, collaborating on infrastructure enhancements to make crossings safer, and educating residents about pedestrian safety laws and best practices. 

With each expansion, Best Foot Forward strengthens its regional footprint, uniting communities across Central Florida in the shared goal of creating safer, more walkable, and connected neighborhoods. 

Stay Involved 

You can play a vital role in making Central Florida safer and more walkable! Join the Best Foot Forward mission by volunteering at our events or becoming an Outreach Specialist. Whether it’s helping with crosswalk enforcement operations, educating the community, or supporting our efforts behind the scenes, your involvement makes a difference. 

Learn more about these opportunities and sign up today: Get Involved 

Together, we can create a safer, more connected future—one crosswalk at a time!