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Thousands of children attend Lee County Schools every day. We expect them to arrive and depart safely. However, they may be entering a danger zone. NBC2 News Investigators reported on August 27, 2018, that our schools may be turning into car crash sites.  

Corporal Phil Mullen, from the Cape Coral Police Department, told NBC2 that the department is concerned about parents dropping off students at the side of the road and not in designated areas. “You might have impatient drivers that decide to go around you and strike a child. We absolutely can enforce stopping in the middle of a 45 mile an hour road for no other reason than dropping children off. You just can't do that,” Mullen said.

During the 2017-2018 school year, one Lee County high school had 27 reported accidents, 18 of which were caused by teens. Some of the teen crashes were parking lot accidents. Other accidents happened when teenagers were speeding out of school and not checking oncoming traffic or stopped vehicles ahead. One source said that often the teens were going too fast, running red lights, and hitting other vehicles.

In a statement to NBC2, the Lee County School District said, “The safety of our students is of the highest priority. Teachers and administrators take every opportunity to educate them (students) on making good decisions to ensure their safety, and the safety of others.”

“The potential for children and teens being injured at school from reckless actions of others is concerning,” said Attorney Randall Spivey of Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. “Nothing in our lives should be more important to us.”

Florida statute 316.1895 sets the minimum and maximum speed limits around school zones. The statute says:

A school zone speed limit may not be less than 15 miles per hour except by local regulation. No school zone speed limit shall be more than 20 miles per hour in an urbanized area, as defined in S 334.03. Such speed limit may be in force only during those times 30 minutes before, during, and 30 minutes after the periods of time when pupils are arriving at a regularly scheduled breakfast program or a regularly scheduled school session, and leaving a regularly scheduled school session.

A person may not drive a vehicle on a roadway designated as a school zone at a speed greater than that posted in the school zone in accordance with this section. Violation of the speed limits established pursuant to this section must be cited as a moving violation. 

“Schools have set designated areas for student drop-offs and pick-ups. Drivers should anticipate the time involved in dropping off and picking up their children. School zones are no place for impatient drivers,” said Attorney Spivey. “Should you or a loved one be injured in an accident, please contact our experienced team at Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. We are available 24/7 to assist you, and there are no costs or attorney fees unless we make a monetary recovery for you.”

Fort Myers Personal Injury 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.