Orlando Police Issuing Tickets to Prevent Pedestrian Accidents

Orlando police officers and Orange County deputies have begun issuing tickets to drivers who don’t yield to pedestrians in crosswalks. Law enforcement agencies in our area recently rolled out Operation Best Foot Forward as part of a concerted effort to cut down on the number of people killed and injured in pedestrian accidents in Orange County and the City of Orlando. Undercover officers have begun strolling across crosswalks at intersections throughout Orange County and sending offenders to uniformed officers nearby to receive tickets.

Many officers expressed dismay at the callous tactics of some drivers.

"We get a lot of drivers that yield to animals in the road, yet they fail to yield to humans," said Sgt. Jerry Goglas.

Amanda Day of Best Foot Forward said, "When we have someone walk out into traffic at a marked crosswalk, a lot drivers don’t yield and they either go to the left and zoom around the person or just don’t stop at all."

At one intersection, some drivers were unaware of a permanent crosswalk sign and another sign that warned drivers that police were watching the intersection. Or they chose to ignore them.

"Since June, running Operation Best Foot Forward, we’ve had over 2,700 warnings issued to drivers and over 750 citations," said Sgt. Goglas.

Police say that the citations nearly always hold up in court. They report that the undercover stings and stepped-up enforcement are not entrapment. They say that the campaign simply makes Orlando safer for pedestrians.

"In metro Orlando, we’re No. 1 for most pedestrian accidents and deaths, so the goal is really just to educate drivers," said Day.

Drivers who receive tickets must pay a $164 fine and get three points on their licenses. Police say that the goal of the campaign is to cut the number of pedestrian accident deaths in half over the next five years.

Mr. Cunningham applauds officers’ efforts to make Orlando and Orange County roadways safer for pedestrians and bicyclists. Since 1977, he has used his skills as an Orlando pedestrian accident lawyer to help people injured by negligent drivers receive the compensation they deserve. Unlike many attorneys in the area, he handles each aspect of clients’ cases personally, ensuring that they receive the best possible outcome. If you would like to schedule a free consultation with Mr. Cunningham to learn more about your rights and legal options after an accident, call him today at 386-243-4994.

James O. Cunningham

Since 1977, personal injury lawyer James Cunningham has provided effective legal advocacy to people who are injured through the negligent actions of another person or entity throughout the Central Florida area. He fights to obtain recoveries for his clients’ physical and emotional pain and suffering and pursues his clients’ personal injury cases with a commitment to excellence and impeccable preparation.