Operation Best Foot Forward

Thursday, February 13, 2025

Sharing on behalf of Volusia-Flagler TPO: Operation Best Foot Forward is a high-visibility enforcement that reminds drivers about Florida’s driver yield law. Studies show that when you combine enforcement, education, and engineering over a prolonged period of time, driver behavior changes.

Bike/Walk Central Florida's Operation Best Foot Forward for Pedestrian Safety Program's vision is that if the rate of drivers that stop for pedestrians in crosswalks increases, then more pedestrians will cross in crosswalks. The program uses a four "E" approach to encourage drivers to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks: Evaluation, Enforcement, Education, and Engineering. In 2024, in Volusia County, enforcement has helped increase driver yield rates 23% at the crosswalk at Ocean Shore Boulevard and Tom Renick Park in Ormond Beach. Enforcement and engineering interventions have increased the driver yield rate at the crosswalk at W. Highbanks Road and the Spring-to-Spring Trail in DeBary by 22%.

The Volusia-Flagler TPO is funding the program's expansion into Flagler County over the next year. A stakeholder coalition representing the jurisdictions of Flagler County was recently formed and included members of law enforcement, city/county technical staff and planners, and TPO committee, board and staff. A workshop was held in January to discuss the crosswalks that will be chosen as the locations for enforcement operations, the first of which is expected to take place between February 11-21, 2025. Below are the eight crosswalks chosen (with aerial links to Google Maps):

Flagler County