FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tallahassee, Fla. – Today, Representative Randy Fine (R-Palm Bay) filed HB 1371, which would require all pedestrian-only “flashing yellow” crosswalks to be converted to full-stop red-lights upon request by a pedestrian – or removed. This legislation would affect all of the recently-installed crosswalks on Florida Highway A1A in Brevard County, as well as all others throughout the state.
“A crosswalk is supposed to be a safe place for a pedestrian to cross the street, but as we saw in December to devastating consequence, a flashing yellow crosswalk does not work,” said Fine. “It’s quite simple – drivers know that a red light means stop. Yellow doesn’t. So this legislation would dictate that if government is going to create dedicated pedestrian crosswalks usable upon demand, the light should flash red once the button is pushed.”
An identical version of the legislation has been filed in the Florida Senate by Senator Keith Perry (R-Gainesville), SB 1000.
“This vital piece of legislation aims to combat the life threatening issue of pedestrian safety in midblock crosswalks. When every second counts, we need to do everything in our power to keep all Floridians safeguarded from the confusion that can tragically result in drivers not stopping in time. Thank you Representative Fine for joining me in championing this much-needed bill.”
This bill will be considered in the upcoming 2020 legislative session, which will begin today.
You didn’t plagiarize Brevard Times, did you?
Representative Randy Fine (R-Palm Bay) filed HB 1371 today which would require all pedestrian-only “flashing yellow” crosswalks to be converted to full-stop red-lights upon request by a pedestrian – or removed.
This legislation would affect all of the recently-installed crosswalks on Florida Highway A1A in Brevard County, as well as all others throughout the state.
“A crosswalk is supposed to be a safe place for a pedestrian to cross the street, but as we saw in December to devastating consequence, a flashing yellow crosswalk does not work,” said Fine.
“It’s quite simple – drivers know that a red light means stop. Yellow doesn’t. So this legislation would dictate that if [the] government is going to create dedicated pedestrian crosswalks usable upon demand, the light should flash red once the button is pushed.”……
http://www.brevardtimes.com/2020/01/florida-bill-to-remove-flashing-yellow-crosswalks-use-red/amp/?fbclid=IwAR1TjQnrZG-GCGIjfmhQBMSrk8XB22oOtqhKl4JVN18TDdFd9HRtQPHhf8A
This is what’s called a press release. It is not from Brevard Times, they are publishing the same press release that Randy Fine published. There is not commentary with it.
I don’t believe turning the light red is an automatic fix. It will take law enforcement to enlighten both sides of the equation pedestrians and motorists. I know Titusville Police reminded people the other day about the responsibilities for pedestrians and drivers. We have ti remember many people here are not from here and have learned different laws. In CT I was waiting to cross and my friend just jumped out into the road. She said that motorists have to stop in her area or they can get ticketed. So I believe a brief campaign reminding people of the laws and responsibilities, coupled with the red lights, will save lives along A1A.
The color of the lights isn’t going to fix things. The issue is where they were placed and how close together they are. In some places there’s a crosswalk every 2/10 of a mile and also putting them 50 feet from an intersection didn’t make any sense either. Very poorly thought out.