Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety 

The Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Team was convened in response to a “Dangerous by Design 2016” study, released by Smart Growth America, which shows the Lakeland-Winter Haven metropolitan area as the sixth-most dangerous metro area for pedestrians in the country.

Over the last year 145 people lost their lives to traffic crashes in Polk County, and these tragedies continue to have heartbreaking and long-lasting effects on families, friends and our community. The Polk Transportation Planning Organization together with Polk Vision has established a target of zero traffic-related fatalities because even one fatality is one too many for a loved one’s family. Speed has been identified as a major factor contributing to traffic fatalities, and the chances of death or serious injury doubles each time a vehicle traveling 50 miles per hour increases its speed by 10 miles per hour.

A driver’s awareness of their surroundings decreases as speed increases, and a driver needs time to see and stop for bicyclists, walkers and other vehicles. Pedestrians and bicyclists, including school-aged children, are among our most vulnerable road users, and a pedestrian struck by a vehicle traveling 30 miles per hour has an 80 percent chance of survival, while the same pedestrian struck by a vehicle traveling 50 miles per hour only has a 20 percent chance of survival; and