Best Foot Forward

Stepping Up For Safety

Floridians deserve and expect safe streets. Nowhere else in the nation do walkers and drivers collide more often than on the streets of Central Florida. On average, 3 people are injured every day, and at least 1 person is killed every week for doing something as simple as crossing the street. 14 percent of those fatalities in Central Florida occur in marked crosswalks.

In 2012, the Best Foot Forward coalition formed on the belief that the status quo is unacceptable. Orange County, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, the City of Orlando, and the Orlando Police Department came together with Orange County Schools, LYNX, the Florida Department of Health- Orange County, and more.

As a pedestrian safety initiative, Best Foot Forward focuses on one simple, measurable goal: to get more drivers to yield and stop for pedestrians in marked crosswalks, as Florida law requires. Best Foot Forward works to accomplish this goal using the proven, “Triple-E” approach of combining community education with low-cost engineering changes and high-visibility enforcement.

In 2017, the Best Foot Forward coalition expanded into Osceola County, welcoming Osceola County, the Cities of Kissimmee, and St. Cloud, as well as their respective law enforcement agencies, Osceola County Schools, and the health department. The coalition grew again in 2019 with the addition of Seminole County, including Seminole County, Altamonte Springs, Casselberry, Longwood, Oviedo, Sanford, Winter Garden, and their respective law enforcement agencies, Seminole County Schools, and the health department. Best Foot Forward is now the largest grassroots coalition in the country focused on pedestrian safety.

To learn more about Best Foot Forward’s evidence based approach, the coalition, the crosswalk enforcement operations, and program progress check out the website.

Best Foot Forward Website