Tampa-Area Police Launch Operation Safe Steps to Reduce Pedestrian Traffic Accidents

Tampa, FL (Law Firm Newswire) December 24, 2014 – Tampa Bay area law enforcement officials say action is needed to reduce pedestrian injuries and deaths resulting from car accidents.

According to Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri, there were nearly 26,000 pedestrian-related traffic accidents in Florida during the three years from 2011 to 2013. Pedestrian crashes increased by 19 percent during the same period. To improve pedestrian safety, the Florida Sheriffs Task Force has initiated a program called Operation Safe Steps.

“There are far too many pedestrian injuries and deaths in the Tampa area and in the state of Florida,” said Robert Joyce, a Tampa car accident attorney with Joyce & Reyes. “Action is definitely needed to improve pedestrian safety.”

As part of Operation Safe Steps, 18 sheriff’s offices throughout the state, including those in Pinellas, Pasco and Hernando counties, stepped up enforcement of pedestrian-related laws for nearly a month. During the period between October 24 and November 20, deputies issued 6,847 warnings to pedestrians and 222 citations to pedestrians. They also issued 8,200 warnings to motorists and 6,700 citations to motorists for pedestrian-related traffic violations.

Authorities stressed that motorists should obey speed limits and stop for pedestrians in crosswalks, and that pedestrians should stay inside designated crosswalks. According to Gualtieri, jaywalking or walking off the sidewalks was involved in approximately 13,500 of the almost 26,000 pedestrian accidents recorded between 2011 and 2013.

Pedestrian safety experts said that in addition to law enforcement action, roadways must be planned, designed and operated in a way that better protects pedestrians.

Learn more at http://www.joyceandreyespa.com Joyce and Reyes Law Firm, P.A. 307 S Hyde Park Ave Tampa, FL 33606 Call: 813.251.2007