Atlantic Beach Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety ... - North Florida TPO

PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
Date: February 25, 2012
Atlantic Beach Police Department
850 Seminole Road Atlantic Beach, FL 32233
Atlantic Beach Police Department Launches Bicycle/Pedestrian Safety Campaign
Yield to Life – Look ALL Ways to Reduce Accidents
The Atlantic Beach Police Department will conduct the Yield to Life - LOOK ALL-Ways campaign
February 28-March 10 to increase awareness and reduce accidents involving motorists,
bicyclists and pedestrians. This effort will focus initially on intersections along Atlantic
Boulevard at Sherry Drive, Seminole Road, Sailfish Drive and Royal Palms Drive.
The campaign will include safety messages installed along the roadway and sidewalks, utility bill
inserts with safety tips mailed to Atlantic Beach residents, and police officers reaching out to
citizens to discuss safety issues and laws. Local businesses will be asked to participate by
handing out brochures and hanging safety campaign posters in their windows. The City of
Atlantic Beach is also enhancing crosswalks with extra signage and markings.
The City of Atlantic Beach has experienced an increase in the number of pedestrian and
bicyclist-involved crashes occurring the past few years. Although statistics show that this trend
is statewide, the Atlantic Beach Police Department (ABPD) has made it a priority to reduce the
number of crashes that involve pedestrians and bicyclists. Accident data analysis revealed most
crashes occurred at intersections along Atlantic Boulevard and Mayport Road. In approximately
half of these incidents motorists were at fault and half were the faults of the bicyclist or
pedestrian.
Education is a key component to safety initiatives so the Atlantic Beach Police partnered with
the North Florida Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) to design a local program.
According to Police Chief Mike Classey, “The goal is to get everyone involved, whether driving a
car, walking or riding a bike…if everyone makes it a priority to Yield to Life and Look ALL-WAYS,
everyone will be safer.”
For additional information, please contact:
Commander Tiffany Layson, P.I.O. (904) 247-5859 tlayson@coab.us