Florida Sheriffs Task Force Operation Safe Steps Targets Pedestrian Safety

For Immediate Release

Tallahassee, Fla. (December 8, 2014) – Today, the Florida Sheriffs Task Force (FSTF) announced the results of Operation Safe Steps, a month long operation focused on pedestrian safety with the goal of reducing pedestrian injuries and deaths resulting from traffic crashes. The operation, which took place from October 24 through November 20, involved proactive traffic enforcement in areas where pedestrian traffic is most dense. Pedestrian safety is a serious concern for Floridians. According to data from the Florida Integrated Report Exchange System, during the four weeks of Operation Safe Steps there were over 750 pedestrian crashes and 33 pedestrians were killed.

FSTF Chair, Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri announced the official results of the operation at a news conference this morning at the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office. Eighteen Sheriff’s Offices participated in the four-week operation which produced tremendous results including:

• 6,847 pedestrian warnings
• 222 pedestrian citations
• 8,247 motorist warnings
• 6,763 motorist citations

“Operation Safe Steps helped us take a big step forward in making Florida a safer place for pedestrians,” said FSTF Chair and Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri. “It is our responsibility as Sheriffs to not only protect our citizens but also educate them and Operation Safe Steps was extremely successful in that regard.”

At the heart of Operation Safe Steps was the goal of educating pedestrians and motorists to help reduce the number of pedestrian injuries and fatalities. The high number of citizen contacts throughout Operation Safe Steps shows the dedication of Florida’s Sheriffs to keeping pedestrians safe. 

"The Florida Sheriffs Association is extremely proud of the efforts put forth by all the participating counties in Operation Safe Steps," said Florida Sheriffs Association President St. Johns County Sheriff David Shoar. “Pedestrian safety is a major focus of law enforcement and through targeted education, we will continue to save lives."

The Florida Sheriffs Task Force is a combined effort of the Florida Sheriffs focusing on coordination of statewide mutual aid, subject matter experts, and providing a point of contact for statewide initiatives.  The Task Force is committed to maintaining the quality of life that Floridians have come to expect and have, therefore, committed to performing proactive operations each year to deter criminal activity.  

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