The Sunshine State considers its school zones to be among the most precious sections of any town or city in Florida, as these areas involve children. Safety is a top priority in all school zones. Speeding will not be tolerated, and penalties will be increased. If an accident occurs in the zone, the driver can be held liable for any injuries, deaths, and/or damages.
Florida knows it has a problem, and officials there are getting tougher in dealing with negligent drivers in school zones. Distracted driving, including smartphones, other smart devices, modern entertainment systems, and driver’s assistance features, can often play a role in school zone accidents. Severe legal repercussions can follow.
Thousands of Speeding Violators
Florida has a statewide school zone speed limit of 20 mph. Local jurisdictions can impose lower speed limits. For example, Broward County has a limit of 15 mph. In Jacksonville alone, school zones remain dangerous places. A recent study of 11 Duval County schools found nearly 10,000 speeding violations in just three days. Those behind the wheel were caught driving more than 30 mph in the 20 mph school zones.
Are automated enforcement tools the answer? A survey by Sachs Media says that 80% of Floridians support school zone speed enforcement cameras.
A Blemished Driving Record
If you get caught speeding in a school zone, your driving record will take a hit. If there’s an accident involved, six points could be added to your record, and you could face a required hearing and license suspension.
Fines start at $50 for 1-9 miles per hour over the speed limit. You could even get nailed with a $2,000 ticket for driving 50 miles per hour, or more, over the speed limit in a school zone. Members of law enforcement aren’t fooling around, especially when it involves keeping kids safe, before and after the bell rings at school.
Following a School Zone Accident
The traffic laws are strict in Florida school zones, and whether you were liable in a school zone accident will depend on several factors. Speeding, distracted driving, failure to yield, or another type of traffic violation involved could show driver liability.
Speeding in a school zone can be used to establish negligence, meaning you were presumed at fault if your violation caused the accident.
Students and other pedestrians in a school zone have the right-of-way. You could be charged with civil liability for failing to yield in a school zone where an injury occurred. When you are found liable in a civil action, upon a verdict in favor of the plaintiff, you must pay whatever monetary damages the jury (or sometimes the judge) awards to the plaintiff.
If the at-fault driver killed a student in the school zone, there could be grounds for criminal charges such as vehicular manslaughter.
Young Lives at Risk Daily
Car accidents in school zones throughout the Sunshine State remain a serious concern. Reduced speed limit signs help, but accidents can still occur, and an at-fault motorist will face more than just a traffic fine, especially if an injury or damage results.
Children are society’s most vulnerable individuals, and their lives are at risk each day they are in the school zone.
If you or someone close to you was hurt in a car crash that was the fault of another party, contact a seasoned personal injury law team for guidance. These experts can help you navigate this often complex system.
Or, if you were the driver involved in an accident in a school zone, seek the advice of a highly skilled lawyer to protect your legal rights and help ensure accountability.