FDOT Puts Focus on Pedestrian, Bicyclist Safety

Throughout 2012, 28 pedestrians and nine bicyclists were killed in Pinellas County.

Thursday, in Pinellas County, the Florida Department of Transportation kicked off a safety and education campaign to increase public awareness about pedestrian safety.  

As part of Secretary Ananth Prasad's ongoing initiative to reduce bicycle and pedestrian injuries and fatalities, the message "Alert Today, Alive Tomorrow...Safety Doesn't Happen By Accident" will be presented via television, social media, transit advertising, and local education and enforcement activities, a news release said.

According to FDOT, its goal is to reduce pedestrian fatalities 20 percent by 2015, which would save 15 lives per year.  

To do this, FDOT said it has a, "multi-faceted solution that includes: engineering, education and enforcement."

Florida Numbers:

• Florida has twice the national average of pedestrian fatalities.
• In the state of Florida, 1.3 pedestrians are killed every day, and almost 10 pedestrians are killed every week. 2.3 bicyclists are killed every week in Florida.

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