Mount Dora plain-clothed police target pedestrian safety

Mount Dora Police Department began its participation in Operation Best Foot Forward, a high-visibility pedestrian safety enforcement campaign, from July 20 through August 4, 2026, to educate drivers and improve safety at crosswalks throughout the community. In Florida, failing to stop for a pedestrian in a crosswalk carries a minimum $164 fine and 3 points on the driver's license—a reminder that this is not only a safety issue, but a legal responsibility.

Operation Best Foot Forward is a Central Florida pedestrian safety initiative focused on improving behavior at crosswalks by increasing the number of drivers who stop for people crossing. The program centers on one clear, measurable goal: making crosswalks safer through consistent, visible, and data-informed strategies.

Rather than relying on a single solution, Best Foot Forward brings together education, enforcement, engineering, and evaluation to address crosswalk safety in a coordinated way. This approach helps communities better understand driver behavior, improve visibility and awareness, and track progress over time.

"Pedestrian safety is a shared responsibility," said Mount Dora Police Chief Mike Gibson. "Our goal is to educate drivers, encourage safer behaviors, and help prevent crashes before they happen."

During the operation, Mount Dora police officers will conduct targeted crosswalk enforcement at selected locations with high pedestrian activity. The enforcement uses a plainclothes officer who walks as a pedestrian, while additional officers monitor driver compliance and stop motorists who fail to yield as required by law. Drivers may receive warnings or citations at the officer's discretion and will be provided educational materials about Florida's pedestrian safety laws.
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Crosswalks are intended to provide a predictable, safer place for people to cross the street, yet many drivers do not consistently stop as required by law. When yielding behavior is unclear or inconsistent, it increases the risk of serious injuries and loss of life. Every day in the United States, more than 200 pedestrians are killed or injured on our roadways, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's 2023 Pedestrian Traffic Safety Facts. Many of these crashes happen while people are simply crossing the street, which underscores how important driver behavior is at crosswalks. When drivers clearly understand when to stop and do so consistently, crossings become safer, more visible, and easier to navigate for everyone.

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