Florida encourages motorist to follow safety rules as school starts

School buses leave West Port High School in Ocala, Fla. after the last bell on Wednesday, May 10, 2023. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2023.

With the new school year just around the corner, the Florida Department of Highway Safety Motor Vehicles is reminding motorists of school zone safety rules.

“Each August, as the school year begins, law enforcement across the state make concentrated efforts to remind drivers about school zone safety. This includes emphasizing the importance of reducing speed, highlighting the consequences of passing school buses, and underlining the danger children are exposed to when such actions occur,” said FHP Colonel Gary Howze II.

According to a media advisory, preliminary data indicates that over 41,000 citations were issued across the state for speeding in a school or work zone in 2023.

Additionally, according to a 2023 survey, there were 11,224 illegal passes of school buses in Florida in the 2022-23 school year, the Florida Department of Education said. Passing a school bus is a direct threat to the safety of children, putting them at risk while they are entering and exiting the bus.

“As of January 1, 2021, the penalties for failing to stop a school bus and passing a stopped school bus on the side where children enter and exit doubled. It is essential that all motorists understand and adhere to the need to stop properly for school buses, ensuring the safety of all of Florida’s children,” FHP warned through a media advisory.

“Other critical factors, such as installing the correct car seat and simply encouraging your loved ones to buckle up, contribute to the community’s safety and positively impact enforcement efforts,” Howze reminded.