Latest Blogs

“School has started in Lee, Collier and Charlotte counties. We at Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. want to remind anyone driving around school zones to drive undistracted. With so much activity around schools in the morning, and when schools let out in the afternoon, full attention must be paid to the environment to avoid accidents which can injure children, teens, and adults,” said Fort Myers Child Injury Attorney, Randall Spivey.

Safe Kids USA reports, in Distracted Drivers in School Zones – A National Report, that because cell phones, music devices and fast food have all become a major part of American culture, and people have become dependent on them, there are safety concerns around school zones. 

The potential for a crash increases when distractions take a driver’s attention away from the driving task. Safe Kids USA says, “An average person, under ideal conditions, without distractions, takes about ¼ of a second to identify a road hazard (such as seeing a child dart out between two cars), ¼ of a second for the brain to process the situation, and another ¼ of a second to make a decision on how to avoid the hazard. If a vehicle is traveling at 30 mph in a school zone, this processing time translates to about 33 feet before the driver even reacts to the situation. Another ¾ of a second equates to another 33 feet before the application of the brakes can bring the vehicle to a stop. Finally, the vehicle itself takes about 3 seconds to engage the brakes, bringing the vehicle to a complete stop in approximately 38 feet. Thus, the overall braking distance needed for an attentive driver, on a dry road, is roughly 104 feet. In contrast, for each second the driver is distracted, an additional 33 feet is added to this number. Thus, if  drivers are distracted with a three-second task the moment a child steps out into the street, it would take them 203 feet to completely stop.”

There have been some improvements made to school zones in the U.S. which can help keep children, teens, and adults safe around schools. These include:

• Installation of high-visibility crosswalks and flashing lights
• Installation of pedestrian safety lights and countdown timers
• Addition of solar-powered flashing school zone and speed limit signs
• Addition of crossing signs 

As a reminder to students, teachers, and staff, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office has seven school safety tips to help decrease the number of distracted-driver accidents around schools. These tips are:

1. Do not enter the street from between or behind parked cars or from behind bushes or shrubs.
2. Be extra alert in bad weather.
3. Be seen in the dark by wearing white or reflective strips on your clothing and backpack.
4. Cross at corners.
5. Observe and obey police officers, adult crossing guards, school safety patrols, traffic signs, and traffic signals. All are traffic safety helpers.
6. Look all ways before crossing.
7. Walk in a single file, facing traffic, when sidewalks are not available. 

“We join our students and their families in looking forward to another wonderful year of school. However, should you or a loved one be injured in a distracted-driver accident, please know we are here to assist you 24/7,” said Attorney Spivey.

Fort Myers Child Injuries Attorney, Randall L. Spivey is a Board Certified Trial Attorney – the highest recognition for competence bestowed by the Florida Bar and a distinction earned by just one (1%) 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 239.793.7748.