Governor Crist recently signed into law a bill that addresses pedestrian safety in Florida, saying that when a pedestrian steps into a sidewalk, the driver must stop. This is a major victory for pedestrians seeking safe passage on Miami's streets. In Miami-Dade County, 90 pedestrians were killed and 1,329 were injured in 2006, according to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Pedestrian Safety Bill (SB 154) amends sections 316.075 & 316.130 of the Florida Statutes and says, “The driver of a vehicle at any crosswalk where signage so indicates shall stop and remain stopped to allow a pedestrian to cross a roadway when the pedestrian is in the crosswalk or steps into the crosswalk and is upon the half of the roadway upon which the vehicle is traveling or when the pedestrian is approaching so closely from the opposite half of the roadway as to be in danger.” Miami's streets were designed for automobiles, not pedestrians. As more people walk, it's time to urge community leaders to take notice of the new law.
