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Throughout the month of October, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is joining local and national transportation partners in recognizing Pedestrian Safety Month. Alongside the educational components of this campaign, which aims to raise awareness on the importance of practicing safe behaviors for both pedestrians and motorists, FDOT is also highlighting the life-saving engineering countermeasures that are currently being implemented across Florida to enhance the safety of our communities.
Pedestrians and bicyclists are among the most vulnerable users of Florida’s transportation system, with these populations representing 28 percent of traffic fatalities statewide between 2019 and 2023. With statistics like this leading FDOT’s continued focus on ultimately eliminating serious injuries and fatalities for all road users, the Department took an aggressive approach to enhance pedestrian safety through the recent installation of innovative road design and engineering countermeasures on state-owned facilities, such as improved intersection lighting, advanced moveable bridge technology, and safer mid-block pedestrian crosswalks design standards. These enhancements will help reduce the likelihood of crashes, serious injuries, and fatalities for all users on Florida’s roadways.
“Our commitment to enhancing the safety of our communities is deeply reflected in the infrastructure improvements we’re proud to prioritize across the state which have the power to significantly reduce tragedies from occurring,” said Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Jared W. Perdue, P.E. “As FDOT continues these efforts, we encourage everyone to join us in making our transportation system safer.”
Under the leadership of Governor DeSantis and with the valued support of the Florida Legislature, FDOT has received historic investments to enhance the safety of our state’s transportation system, which has provided the opportunity to advance these significant pedestrian-focused projects across the state totaling over $114 million:
- Intersection Lighting Retrofit Program: Recognizing that nearly 80 percent of pedestrian fatalities occur in dark conditions, FDOT has invested over $100 million to install LED lighting to enhance crosswalk illumination and pedestrian visibility for motorists at night at over 2,500 intersections across the state. FDOT’s analysis shows that this proven safety countermeasure is estimated to reduce nighttime intersection crashes by up to 38 percent. This has been further demonstrated through the reduction of crashes involving fatalities and serious injuries at locations where lighting improvements were previously completed through the Highway Safety Improvement Program, with over 400 fewer incidents occurring in these locations since 2019.
- Moveable Bridge Safety Enhancements: FDOT has also prioritized improving safety on all 82 state-owned moveable bridges, which include drawbridges and lift bridges. While current safety measures are in place to provide visibility and protection to keep motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists at a safe distance when bridges are in operation, FDOT is actively working to implement innovative advanced detection technology on these facilities, including thermal imaging cameras to help identify heat signature and Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) technology to produce high-resolution imagery on monitors in the bridge tender house. These countermeasures will enhance a bridge tender’s ability to detect the presence of pedestrians and cyclists in real time before engaging the mechanism that initiates the movement of the bridge.
- Mid-Block Pedestrian Crosswalks: To increase safety at mid-block crosswalks, FDOT has developed new design standards to ultimately reduce the number of crashes seen at these locations. These crosswalks include a range of safety features, such as pedestrian signals, median refuge islands, enhanced pavement markings, signs, roadway illumination, in-pavement lighting, and raised crosswalks. Numerous new mid-block crosswalks are currently under construction across the state to provide safer, more visible pedestrian crossing points, particularly in high-traffic areas.
As FDOT continues to carry out its mission of building and maintaining safe and efficient infrastructure through these projects and emerging technology capabilities, it’s important for all road users, including pedestrians and motorists alike, to recognize the important role they play in their own personal safety when using our state’s transportation system. With human behavior serving as the leading cause for pedestrian-related crashes, serious injuries, and fatalities statewide, all road users are encouraged to practice the following safety measures to help FDOT achieve its goal of preventing these tragedies altogether.
For Pedestrians:
- Always use designated crosswalks and sidewalks when available. With two-thirds of pedestrian-related fatal crashes occurring outside of a marked crosswalk, it’s important for pedestrians to always use these designated crossings. Additionally, pedestrians are required by state law to use sidewalks when available. If there is no sidewalk, be sure to walk facing traffic, along the shoulder of the road, and as far away from the travel lane as safely as possible.
- Stop and check for traffic before entering the roadway to cross. Make eye contact with oncoming drivers but do not assume that they will stop for you. Pay close attention to drivers who may be turning, especially when crossing at intersections, driveways in neighborhoods, or shopping centers.
- Stay alert while walking and always watch where you are going. Avoid using your cell phone and listening to loud music with headphones on. Your attention should be focused on your surroundings and these distractions can make it difficult to see and hear if a vehicle is approaching you.
- Wear bright-colored or reflective clothing. Pedestrians can improve their safety by wearing bright-colored or reflective clothing when heading out to walk at dusk or after dark. Wearing colors such as green, yellow, and white greatly increases pedestrian visibility to motorists.
For Motorists:
- Never drive while impaired. Being under the influence of alcohol, marijuana, or other drugs delays your reaction time and affects your thinking, reasoning, and muscle coordination, which are critical components to your ability to safely operate a vehicle and watch for pedestrians.
- Be aware at intersections. Always come to a full stop at a red light, stop sign, or marked stopped line and yield to pedestrians with a walk signal to cross the road. When turning right on red, drivers must come to a complete stop and look both ways for pedestrians or bicyclists before turning.
- Slower speeds can save lives. The greater the speed, the longer it takes for a vehicle to stop and the more severe the potential injuries are for pedestrians. In 2022, excess speed was a factor in 29 percent of Florida’s fatal crashes. Additionally, at speeds of only 30 miles per hour, the risk of severe injuries in a pedestrian-involved vehicle crash is about 50 percent and this risk will rise to 90 percent when that speed increases to 46 miles per hour.
- Stay focused on driving and put away distractions. Drivers distracted by their mobile devices greatly increase their risk of being involved in a serious or fatal crash. Keep your eyes on the road every time you’re behind the wheel.
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