Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer to Help Keep Kids Safe Upon Return to School

WHAT:
Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer will work-along with Orlando Police Department Chief Paul Rooney to assist in School Crossing Guard duties for Metrowest Elementary when Orange County students return to the classroom for their first day of school on Monday, August 20. This work-along is an effort to raise awareness about pedestrian safety and traffic laws to prevent unnecessary pedestrian injuries and deaths.

“As we begin another school year, it is important to remember that children will be riding buses and walking or biking to school,” said Mayor Dyer. “Let’s put our best foot forward, watch out for students and remember to slow down in school zones.”

During the work-along, Orlando Police officers, as part of Operation Best Foot Forward, will be at the school warning drivers who fail to yield to pedestrians at crosswalks as the State of Florida law requires.

Operation Best Foot Forward, a high-visibility enforcement operation, is a key component of a community-wide effort to cut pedestrian deaths and injuries in half over the next five years in Metro Orlando. Other elements of the program focus on using low-cost engineering and community education.

WHEN:
Monday, August 20, 2012
8:15 a.m. to 9:15 a.m.

WHERE:
Metrowest Elementary School
1801 Lake Vilma Drive (Corner of Lake Vilma Drive and Westpointe Boulevard)

WORK-ALONG BACKGROUND:
As part of Mayor Dyer’s commitment to providing citizens with the high quality service they have come to expect, he participates in work-alongs with various City staff. Mayor Dyer has worked with Code Enforcement Officers, gone door-to-door with Orlando Police Officers delivering valuable City information to residents in the Parramore Heritage Neighborhood, assisted City staff and children of the Nap Ford Community School in planting a community garden and worked in the customer service and development review areas of Permitting Services.

BEST FOOT FORWARD BACKGROUND:
Best Foot Forward for Pedestrian Safety is a coalition of civic leaders, public safety officials, engineers, educators, transportation planners, advocates and concerned citizens. Initiated by Bike/Walk Central Florida under the leadership of former Orange County Mayor Linda Chapin, spearheaded by Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and funded by Orange County, the Winter Park Health Foundation, MetroPlan Orlando, the Orlando Police Department, and the Center for Research and Education in Safety, the coalition includes Orange County Government, Orlando Health, Lynx, the City of Orlando, Winter Park, Maitland, Eatonville, Windermere, Winter Garden, and Apopka, as well as the police chiefs throughout Orange County led by Orlando Police Chief Paul Rooney and Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings.

The mission is to prevent accidents and improve pedestrian safety, while encouraging walking as a safe, fun form of transportation and healthy activity. To learn more, go to www.iyield4peds.org.

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