Like the flip of the switch, traffic patterns change next week when some 79,000 Osceola County school students return to the classroom Monday.
That means observing school zone traffic speeds — cities and the county have over 30 speed zone cameras to track violations — and keeping an eye out for students walking and riding bikes, as well as getting on and off school buses.
As a reminder, traffic in both directions must stop for a bus showing flashing red lights and an extended sign or arm. The only exception is opposite-direction traffic on roads with a raised divider or a grass median of at least five feet.
The buses, and other cars carrying students, will up the amount of traffic on our roads in the early mornings and mid-afternoons.
“Traffic tends to spike during the first days of school as many parents opt to drive their children,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman for AAA—The Auto Club Group. “We advise adding 30 minutes to your morning commute. Drivers running late are more prone to speeding, which endangers lives.”
AAA mentioned the “ABC’s of School Zone Safety for Drivers”:
Avoid distractions: Stay focused on the road. No texting, eating, or multitasking while driving; Florida law prohibits the use of handheld devices while driving through active school zones.
Be ready to brake: Slow down and stay alert for unpredictable things in school zones, and be ready to stop at a moment’s notice.
Check for pedestrians and bicyclists: Watch for school zone signs, crossing guards, and anyone walking or biking. Always yield and drive cautiously.
According to a recent AAA survey, 3 in 5 Floridians regularly drive through school zones (65%) or by school bus stops (61%) during their daily routes.
Walkers should: Stay alert, be aware of surroundings and avoid using headphones or looking down at phones when near traffic, use sidewalks where available, or walk against the direction of traffic so you can see oncoming vehicles.
Bicyclists and other “riders” (scooters, etc.) should: Wear a helmet, ride with the flow of traffic in bike lanes where they are, lose the headphones for the ride, and only cross streets at intersections, preferably in crosswalks and not from between parked cars.
