Flagler County proclaims support for Best Foot Forward; program shows rising driver-yield rates at monitored crosswalks

The Flagler County Board of County Commissioners on March 17 unanimously approved a proclamation recognizing the Best Foot Forward pedestrian-safety program and asked staff to continue coordination with regional partners on enforcement and engineering countermeasures.

The proclamation recognizes a regional program run by Bike Walk Central Florida that uses a three-pronged approach—low-cost engineering, high-visibility enforcement and dynamic public education—to increase driver yield rates at marked crosswalks. Vince Dyer, program manager for Best Foot Forward, told the board the program measures drivers’ behavior at sample crossings, marks drivers who stop as “yielding” and those who do not as “not yielding.”

Dyer said program targets label crosswalks under 33% driver yielding as “low” and those at 66% or above as “high.” He cited sample Flagler County locations with low yield rates that the program has identified for attention: the trail crossing at Town Center Boulevard and Royal Palms Parkway (reported 38% yielding) and Ocean Shore Boulevard at Gamble Rogers State Park (about 31% yielding). He also noted better-performing crossings such as Bulldog Drive at State Road 100 (88% yielding) and Belle Terre Boulevard at State Road 100 (about 60% yielding after recent enforcement).

Nut graf: County leaders said the presentation matters because Flagler County and its regional partners are trying to reduce pedestrian injuries and deaths by combining data, enforcement and low-cost engineering. The board’s proclamation formalizes county support and signals continued coordination with the Volusia‑Flagler TPO and the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office.

Dyer summarized regional program activity and results from last year: teams monitored 116 crosswalks and recorded about 32,000 pedestrian crossings as data points; staff coordinated 100 crosswalk enforcement details region‑wide that resulted in roughly 1,400 warnings and citations across all participating counties; and engineering changes tracked at 20 sites produced an average 22% increase in driver-yield rates where measures were implemented. He said a recent quarterly enforcement included the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office and produced warnings at two local locations.

Dyer described contractor and countermeasure performance: rapid rectangular flashing beacons (RRFBs) and pedestrian hybrid beacons typically push yield rates toward or above the 66% “high” threshold, while steady flashing circular yellow beacons show little to no effect on driver yielding. The program also measures whether stopped drivers leave adequate lateral space for pedestrians and collects observations on markings and signage for public-works partners.

County commissioners thanked the presenters and voted to accept the proclamation recognizing Best Foot Forward in Flagler County.

Ending: County staff said presentation materials and the adopted proclamation will be posted on the county website, and the program plans additional monitoring and coordinated enforcement with the sheriff’s office and FDOT-managed crosswalks.