The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) District Five recently presented transportation safety awards and discussed efforts by local governments, transportation organizations, law enforcement, advocacy groups, schools, and FDOT to improve safety on local roadways at the 2nd Annual Central Florida Safety Summit.
More than 250 people from 70 organizations attended the Safety Summit, representing all nine counties in FDOT District Five, 31 cities and towns, 15 public safety agencies, and the five Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPO) and Transportation Planning Organizations (TPO) serving Central Florida.
“Our common goal is to eliminate fatalities and serious injuries on our roadways, and we do that by engineering safety features into transportation projects and by educating drivers and pedestrians on how to travel more safely,” said FDOT District Five Safety Administrator Loreen Bobo. “The Safety Strategic Plan builds on FDOT’s Target Zero initiative and many communities’ Vision Zero plans. By aligning our efforts, we are making progress on getting to zero.”
State Rep. Bill Partington was the keynote speaker and State Sen. Tom Wright provided the welcome at the annual event, held this year at Daytona International Speedway. Other speakers shared case studies and best practices centered on the Central Florida Safety Strategic Plan, which guides action steps to develop safer streets and change behaviors.
Among the many winners of the safety awards presented by Bobo and FDOT District Five Secretary John E. Tyler, P.E. were: Brenda Urias, co-owner of Bicikleta Bike Shop in Sanford and founder of Sanford Tours & Experiences, and board member of Bike/Walk Central Florida, won the Individual Award for her work in fostering a culture of hospitality and inclusivity in the cycling community.
The work of the Central Florida Safety Strategic Plan is guided by a Steering Committee made up of representatives from counties, cities, MPOs and TPOs. Progress and resources are shared through the FDOT District Five Office of Safety website at fdot.gov/D5Safety.
Picture caption:
FDOT District Five Safety Administrator Loreen Bobo, P.E., (far left) and FDOT District Five Secretary John E. Tyler, P.E., (far right) presented the Individual Award to Brenda Urias at the 2025 Central Florida Safety Summit. Urias is the co-owner of Bicikleta Bike Shop in Sanford, founder of Sanford Tours & Experiences and a board member of Bike/Walk Central Florida.
