Jan. 21, 2025 - Since August 2024, at least 13 students in Duval have been struck by a vehicle. Sadly, three of those incidents were fatal.
Another concerning data point – in Florida, Jacksonville ranks as the third most deadly metropolitan area for pedestrians and cyclists.
This sobering reality is why Team Duval is collaborating with multiple community partners in a pedestrian and bicycle campaign called “Be Safe. Be Seen.” The goal is to make Jacksonville’s streets safer for our children.
The campaign, which will run Jan. 21-31, features two components.
Classroom Instruction
First, Team Duval students will receive practical guidance on how to safely walk and bike to their destination. This includes:
Always crossing the street at designated crosswalks or intersections
Making eye contact with drivers before crossing in front of a vehicle
Obeying traffic signals
Looking left, right, left before crossing to ensure the road is clear
Walking, not running, across the street to avoid tripping and have more time to check traffic
Wearing bright, reflective clothing at night or in low-light conditions to be visible to drivers
Avoiding distractions like texting or using headphones and ear pods when crossing the street
In addition to the classroom instruction, Duval County Public Schools is emailing a Parent Guide to families. Filled with statistics, safety tips for drivers and pedestrians, and activity ideas, this Parent Guide will help families reinforce the message of “Be Safe. Be Seen.”
PSA Videos
Secondly, we teamed up with community partners to produce a series of short, PSA-style videos on the district’s social media.
The videos contain important reminders – particularly for drivers – on not driving distracted and vigilantly watching out for children to help prevent a tragedy. They will be available on the district’s social media channels throughout the duration of the campaign.
Special Thanks
A special thanks to the following school and community leaders who participated in the videos (alphabetical order):
Andre Ayoub, Duval Emergency Preparedness Chief
Dr. Christopher Bernier, Duval Schools Superintendent
Melody Bolduc, Duval County School Board Member
April Carney, Duval County School Board Vice-Chairman
Mayor Donna Deegan, Jacksonville
Mayor Curtis Ford, Atlantic Beach
Cindy Pearson, Duval County School Board Member
Anthony Ricardo, Duval County School Board Member
Chief Jackson Short, Duval County School Police
Sheriff T.K. Waters, Jacksonville
Randy White, Jacksonville City Council President
Darryl Willie, Duval County School Board Member