Fine’s bill HB 1371, the Sophia Nelson Pedestrian Safety Act got unanimous approval from the Florida House State Affairs Committee yesterday. 12 year old Sophia Nelson from Satellite Beach was struck by a vehicle while using a flashing yellow crosswalk on A1A last December. Sophia’s parents joined Fine in Tallahassee yesterday to urge legislators to support they bill.
“We are creating a false sense of security for pedestrians by making them believe they push that button they will be safe. And they are not,” Fine said.
Critics of the crosswalks have said that they are confusing to drivers and that if cars need to stop, then the lights should be red and not yellow.
This is what the bill addresses: