Even if you have children, it is sometimes hard not to find the slowdown of a school zone to be an inconvenience; after all, you may be in a hurry to get to work or to another destination with a sense of urgency, and from the main road there may seem to be little going on—and little reason to be traveling at a snail’s pace; however, this could not be further from the truth in most cases as schools are extremely busy and this activity can spill out into the road via school buses, kids walking and bicycling, and more, at any moment.

As a parent, you are probably aware that kids bring a wonderful amount of energy to any situation. But this type of chaos must be carefully controlled in the school situation, and especially just during and after school when there may be hundreds of children milling about, cars entering and leaving at multiple locations, and backpack-toting children walking and riding bicycles.

At the inner school realm is the car pick-up line, developed by your school in an organized and closely monitored fashion so that kids can be picked up easily and safely. Here, although the routine may be simple and turn into a rote exercise, this is never a place where you want to be traveling on auto pilot or distracted by a cell phone. If your child rides the bus, again, there is an area where extreme caution should be practiced as groups of younger people congregate waiting to get on their bus to start their day or piling out of one as they are being dropped off. If your child rides their bike to school also, make sure they are visible to motorists in wearing bright or light-colored clothing. Educate them fully on traffic rules and how to stay safe while traveling near cars.

Speeding or otherwise driving recklessly through a school zone is not just increasing the potential for a tragic accident, but also your chances for getting a ticket from law enforcement—with added repercussions due to the location. Accidents involving children can be catastrophic due to their smaller size, leading to broken bones, soft tissue damage, head injuries, paralysis, and more.

If you or your child has been injured due to the negligence of others, contact the attorneys at Heintz & Becker. We’ve helped victims from Bradenton, Sarasota, and all over Florida get compensation for their damages and medical expenses after accidents. Call us for a free consultation now at 941-748-2916 or contact us online. We are here to help!

All blogs are written on behalf of Heintz & Becker for informational purposes. These articles should not, however, be considered legal advice, or in any way responsible for creating an attorney/client relationship.