NR 21-56 Sheriff’s Office participates in high visibility enforcement program to improve pedestrian and bicycle safety

Brevard 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 Brevard County Sheriff’s Office 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 County roads.

Starting this month through May 2022, the Sheriff’s Office will have additional deputies on patrol at specific corridors with 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. Deputies 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.

Deputies 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. Deputies will issue warnings and citations only when appropriate.

To keep the public safe, the Sheriff’s Office 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

For additional information concerning this News Release, please contact Major Stephen Fernez of Operational Services at 321-454-6643.