Orlando police enforce road safety, protect pedestrians and cyclists

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Orlando Police Department will monitor pedestrian and cyclist safety with high visibility enforcement starting this month.

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HVE details are funded through a contract with the University of North Florida.

The Florida Department of Transportation also has a goal to improve safety.

Read: Orange City Police enforce pedestrian and bicycle safety, join Florida program

This effort will help to remind drivers, cyclists and pedestrians of Florida traffic laws and to abide by them.

Violations may lead to warnings or citations.

This enforcement will last through next May.

Read: Troopers search for 2 hit-and-run drivers after pedestrian run over by 3 vehicles

In August, Florida Highway Patrol troopers investigated a hit-and-run crash that killed a cyclist.

FHP said the biggest factor in most of these crashes is a failure to abide by traffic laws.

Lt. Tara Crescenzi with FHP said it’s a huge issue in Central Florida, especially in Orange County.

According to the FHP dashboard, there have been at least four recorded fatalities of cars versus cyclists in Orange County since January.

Read: Troopers investigate deadly crash involving a pedestrian and Tesla

Crescenzi said it’s not good for one county to have so many deaths of this nature in eight months.

“Something we’ve seen in recent cases is the pedestrians and the bicyclists are not using a marked crosswalk, so they are in the lane of travel,” she said.

Crescenzi also said all pedestrians and cyclists have to yield the right of way to traffic that’s on the roadway.

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Orlando installs new crosswalk on Corrine Drive to help with pedestrian, cyclist safety

The City of Orlando has the following reminders for people on the road:

— Pedestrians: Cross the street in marked crosswalks, obey signals and make sure you are visible to drivers at night.

— Drivers: Obey speed limits, do not drive impaired and always keep an eye out for pedestrians and cyclists.

— Cyclists: Follow traffic laws, ride in the direction of traffic and use lights at night.

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