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"August is back-to-school month in Southwest Florida.  Collier, Charlotte and Lee County public schools, and many private schools, open their doors to a new school year this month," reminds Florida Child Injuries Attorney, Randall Spivey of Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. "As those doors open, it is time for all of us to make a commitment to keeping this school year as safe as possible for our students. We, at Spivey Law Firm, are committed to school safety and wish to share with you the following tips provided by the police and sheriff's departments and the Florida driving laws as they relate to school buses and school zones."

Children Riding The Bus

• Ensure that children are not engaging in horseplay or other activities that may subject them to unnecessary hazards associated with vehicular traffic while waiting at bus stops.

• Make sure children stand at least 10 feet (5 giant steps) from the road while waiting for the school bus. The child will then be out of the way of traffic. Have younger children practice taking 5 giant steps to become familiar with 10 feet.

• Make sure that children know to wait for the bus to come to a complete stop before approaching it.

• Be sure children can visually see the bus driver at all times before moving to board the bus.

• If available, encourage children to wear a lap/shoulder seat belt while on the bus.

• Reinforce the rule that the school bus driver is in charge when children are on the bus.  School bus drivers have a tremendous responsibility to ensure their attention is focused on delivering the children to and from school in the safest way possible.  Unruly, noisy or children moving about on the bus only creates a distraction for the bus driver.

• Warn children that if they drop something when getting on or off the bus, they should never pick it up.  They should, instead, tell the bus driver and follow the driver's instructions. If children bend over to pick up an object without the bus driver's knowledge, they could be injured.

Children Walking to School

• If children are not walking to school accompanied by an adult, they should walk in groups.

• Children should be encouraged to walk a prescribed route each day and not deviate from this route.

• Children should be dressed in clothing which is sufficiently visible to motorists, such as light-colored clothing, reflective vests or backpacks that have attached lights or reflective material.

• Children should be reminded about what to do if a stranger approaches when walking to or from school.

• Stress the importance of crossing streets only in designated crosswalks.  Where crossing guards are not present, children need to learn how to cross streets safely looking both ways. They should look left, then right, then left again.

• All belongings should fit in children's backpacks so they are not dropped on the way to or from school.

Children Riding Bikes to School

• When riding a bike to school, children should wear the proper safety equipment, including helmets, light-colored clothing and proper lighting and reflective devices.

• Children riding bikes to school should know the rules of the road and the proper use of hand signals.

Safety Tips for Motorists

• When school starts, there is more traffic around. Motorists should allow more time to get where they are going.

• Expect the unexpected - children darting out from behind cars or riding their bikes in semi-dark conditions.

• Observe the reduced speed limits around schools, and slow down around bus stops.

• Be patient when travelling behind a school bus which is stopping to load and unload children.

In Lee County alone an estimated 86,000 students and nearly 5,000 full and part-time employees will begin the 2013-2014 school year this month.  More than 850 school buses will be traveling 72,000 miles a day on 714 bus routes.  The most common driving violations according to the Lee County Sheriff's Department are speeding in school zones, passing stopped school busses and failing to yield to students in crosswalks.

The 2013 Florida Driver's Handbook,  released by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles says in section:

6.5 - School Buses that:

"On a two way street or highway, all drivers moving in either direction must stop for a stopped school bus which is picking up or dropping off children. You must remain stopped until all children are clear of the roadway and the bus’ stop arm is withdrawn. 

If the highway is divided by a raised barrier or an unpaved median at least five feet wide, you do not have to stop if you are moving in the opposite direction of the bus. Painted lines or pavement markings are not considered barriers. You must always stop if you are moving in the same direction as the bus and you must remain stopped until the bus stop arm is withdrawn. Any person using, operating, or driving a vehicle that passes a school bus on the side that children enter and exit when the school bus displays a stopped signal commits a moving violation and will be required to complete a basic driver improvement course."

In section 6.5.1 - School Crossings:

"School area signs advise drivers of school zones and school crossings. School zones help protect the safety of students when they cross the roadway. School crossings help inform drivers that children use that crossing to go to and from school. Be attentive to school zone reduced speed limits, school crossing guards, and unpredictable children, since these situations may require you to reduce your speed or stop. When children (walking, bicycling or skating) or school crossing guards are present in a crosswalk, drivers must yield or stop at the marked stop line and without stopping in the crosswalk. It is the driver’s responsibility to avoid colliding with pedestrians. Do your part to make every school crossing a safe crossing for children. Crossing guards are the first to enter and last to exit a crosswalk to indicate to drivers that pedestrians, especially children, are about to cross or are crossing. Do not enter the crosswalk while a school crossing guard is in the roadway. "

Child Injury Accident Attorney, Randall L. Spivey is a Board Certified Civil Trial Attorney – the highest recognition for competence bestowed by the Florida Bar and a distinction earned by less than 2 percent of Florida attorneys. He has handled over 2,000 personal injury and wrongful death cases throughout Florida. For a free and confidential consultation to discuss your legal rights, contact the Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A., in Lee County at  239. 337.7483 or toll free at 1.888.477.4839, or by email to Randall@SpiveyLaw.com.  Visit SpiveyLaw.com  for more information. You can contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. in Charlotte County at 941.764.7748 and in Collier County at 239.793.7748.