Palm Bay Pedestrian-Bicyclist Program

PALM BAY, FLORIDA-The Palm Bay Police Department has once again partnered with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) in effort to improve the safety of the most vulnerable roads users in our community. Florida’s Alert Today/Alive Tomorrow High Visibility Enforcement Program is designed to increase awareness of, and compliance with, traffic laws and regulations that protect the safety of pedestrians and bicyclists on Florida’s roads.

High Visibility Enforcement is a traffic safety approach designed to educate on safe driving, walking, and biking behaviors and to increase compliance with traffic laws. The goal of this data driven enforcement program is to reduce traffic crashes resulting in serious and fatal injuries to pedestrians and bicyclists. Pedestrians and bicyclists are the most vulnerable road users. Traffic crashes involving pedestrians and bicyclists are more likely to result in serious or fatal injuries than other traffic crashes. The physical, emotional, and economic impacts caused by these crashes are significant.

Since we have partnered with FDOT regarding this safety initiative, we have seen a decrease of crashes involving bicyclists and pedestrians. Thanks largely to the officers who have participated in years past, we have seen a 20.56% decrease of crashes involving bicyclists and pedestrians from 107 crashes in 2018 to 85 crashes in 2019.

Officers will conduct details in corridors of Palm Bay Road and Malabar Road which are two roadways identified by FDOT as in having the highest number of crashes involving pedestrians and bicyclists in Palm Bay. The main focus of the officers working these details is education and not on the issuance of citations, though citations will be issued if warranted. The details will begin November 30th and continue through May of 2021.

The Palm Bay Police Department is asking the public to do their share in keeping the roadways safe by being alert and driving carefully.