Longboat Key PD to increase public outreach on pedestrian, bicyclist safety

Longboat Key Police Department officers recently completed a course designed to enhance education about bicyclist and pedestrian safety along roadways. 

The goal of the course taught by the Institute of Police Technology and Management is to inform officers about laws and best procedures related to bicycle and pedestrian safety. 

Completion of this course on Nov. 25 includes a $5,000 grant to the Longboat Key Police Department, funded by the Florida Department of Transportation.

This money is to be used for directed patrol overtime for the department, which means focusing on educating the public and enforcing safety-related laws in order to receive extra money. During these directed patrols, the officers can’t be pulled onto other non-related calls. 

“It gives us more of a presence with our team,” Chief of Police George Turner said. 

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In the 4-hour course, officers reviewed common causes of crashes involving pedestrians, comprehensive approaches to local crash problems, road safety audits, Florida laws related to pedestrians and available educational materials and resources. 

According to a brochure about the course, Florida ranks first in bicyclist fatalities and second in pedestrian fatalities in the nation. 

Crashes that result in fatalities are less common on Longboat Key, but the state identified Gulf of Mexico Drive between Yawl Lane (600 GMD) and 1700 GMD near the Aquarius Club to be the highest area of concern for vehicle crashes. 

Now certified through this course, Longboat Key officers plan to increase public education and outreach efforts about pedestrian safety in the coming months. 

Turner said this effort will kick off once the roads are clear of debris following cleanup from hurricanes Helene and Milton. 

Strategies for public education may include traffic message boards, marked vehicle enforcement and outreach to resident groups. 

“I think it’s going to be mostly educational,” Turner said. “Making sure that people know the rules of the road and what they have to follow, safety on the sidewalks and the fact that sidewalks are shared between pedestrians and bicycles…to make it a safer environment, more enjoyable for everyone.”