The Auburndale Police Department Participates in High Visibility
Enforcement Program to Improve Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety
Polk County ranks in the top 25 counties in Florida for traffic crashes resulting in
serious and fatal injuries to pedestrians and bicyclists. To help reverse this trend, the Auburndale Police Department is participating in the Florida Department of Transportation High
Visibility Enforcement (HVE) Program aimed at educating motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians
on Florida’s traffic laws to improve safety on city roads.
Starting this month through May 2022, the Auburndale Police Department will have additional officers on patrol on State Road 559 (Berkley Road), between U.S. Highway 92 and Donovan Drive. This specific area has a high occurrence of pedestrians and bicyclists’ crashes. Special attention will be directed towards increasing awareness of the dangerous behaviors that are contributing to serious and fatal injuries at these locations. Officers will look for drivers speeding, failing to stop for pedestrians in crosswalks, conducting improper turns or signal violations and using hand-held devices while driving.
Officers also will watch for pedestrians who cross the street illegally or fail to yield to motorists who have right-of-way. Bicyclists will be stopped for riding against traffic, riding at night without lights or not abiding by the same laws as motor vehicles. Officers will issue warnings and citations only when appropriate.
“Whether you are on foot, behind the wheel, or on a bike, you have a responsibility to share the
road safely,” said Chief Andy Ray. “Understanding the rules of the road helps ensure we all arrive at our destination safely and makes our streets safer for everyone.” Funding for this program is provided through a contract with University of North Florida’s Institute of Police Technology and Management (IPTM) funded by the Florida Department of Transportation. The Auburndale Police Department will receive funds for overtime hours for officers to conduct operations and for special training on Florida’s bicycle and pedestrian laws, procedures, and best practices.
To keep the public safe, the Auburndale Police Department offers the following tips when biking,
driving or walking:
§ Drivers: obey speed limits, never drive impaired, and always watch for pedestrians and
bicyclists
§ Bicyclists: obey traffic laws, ride in the direction of traffic, and use lights when riding at
night
§ Pedestrians: cross in crosswalks or at intersections, obey pedestrian signals, and make
sure you are visible to drivers when walking at night
About [Local Enforcement Agency]:
About Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) Bicycle and Pedestrian Focused
Initiative:
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) developed Florida’s Bicycle/Pedestrian Focused Initiative in 2011 to lead all efforts to improve pedestrian and bicycle safety in the state. The public education campaign was branded “Alert Today Florida.” The goal of this initiative is to eliminate traffic crashes on Florida’s roads that result in serious or fatal injuries to pedestrians and bicyclists. Objectives include advancing data collection, analysis, and evaluation to guide the implementation of comprehensive safety strategies directed towards areas with the highest representation of traffic crashes resulting in serious or fatal injuries to pedestrians and bicyclists. Additional information about pedestrian and bicycle safety is available at www.alerttodayflorida.com.
