In honor of Pedestrian Safety Month, the City of Tampa will be increasing public outreach efforts this October to raise awareness about the importance of pedestrian safety, share tips, and challenge the community to be a part of the City’s Vision Zero mission.
“Creating safer streets for all is one of the top priorities of our Transforming Tampa’s Tomorrow vision and our commitment to being a Vision Zero City,” says Mayor Jane Castor. “Safety is a shared responsibility. It is up to all of us to stay alert, double-check for pedestrians and cyclists, use the crosswalk, and slowdown in school zones and other pedestrian areas. By simply staying vigilant, we can help save lives in our community.”
Tampa Mayor Jane Castor announced the City of Tampa's commitment to Vision Zero in October 2019 at the National Safe Routes to Schools Conference. Vision Zero is a strategy to eliminate all traffic fatalities and severe injuries while increasing safe, healthy, equitable mobility for all. As part of her commitment to Vision Zero, Mayor Castor has prioritized safety for our most vulnerable roadway users – our pedestrians and cyclists.
In 2019, there were 59 pedestrian fatalities in Hillsborough County, accounting for 26% of total traffic-related fatalities. Nearly half of these pedestrian fatalities happened at night, making it essential for motorists and pedestrians to stay alert at all times. Unfortunately, year after year, our region experiences an increasing number of traffic-related pedestrian deaths.
The City of Tampa is actively working to improve safety on our streets by implementing Complete Streets, through “Paint Saves Lives” street murals like Crosswalks to Classrooms, and through innovative treatments such as pedestrian-activated flashing beacons (Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons/RRFB’s) and Leading Pedestrian Intervals
It's important to remember that whether you are in a parking lot, crosswalk, or on a road, everyone is a pedestrian at some point. As the weather becomes even more beautiful in Tampa and daylight hours shorter, it’s critical for drivers to be aware of pedestrians.
Throughout the month-long campaign, the City will post “Walking Tip Wednesdays” with tips for drivers and pedestrians to social media and various platforms.
For additional information, contact Danni Jorgenson at (813) 417-0218 or danni.jorgenson@tampagov.net