August kicks-off Child Safety Awareness Month | #childsafety | #kids | #chldern | #parents | #schoolsafey

By FLHSMV

TALLAHASSEE — August kicks off back-to-school season and the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles’ (FLHSMV) child safety campaign to educate and encourage Florida’s motorists, parents, caregivers, and children to Know Their Zone and be aware of the critical safety areas around school buses, school zones, and neighborhoods where children are walking, biking, or being picked up and dropped off. Whether it’s your students’ first time attending school or they’re returning, FLHSMV—along with its division, the Florida Highway Patrol, and public safety partners around the state—wants to remind you of the importance of taking proper safety precautions, because every driver plays an essential role in keeping children safe.

In addition to staying alert in school zones and around school buses, motorists should also remember the importance of proper child restraints and seat belts, practicing pedestrian safety, preventing vehicular heatstroke, and staying vigilant to avoid vehicular backover incidents. By taking these responsible steps, Floridians can help ensure students have a safe and successful start to the school year.

Stop for school buses

In 2023, the Florida legislature passed House Bill 0657 and Senate Bill 0766, which created and amended multiple Florida Statutes that authorize local jurisdictions to implement and operate school zone speed detection systems and school bus passing infraction detection systems. Passing a school bus is not just a traffic violation, it’s a direct threat to the safety of children. Each illegal pass poses a risk to children entering and exiting the bus. As responsible community members, we have a duty to ensure their safety by following the law and not passing a school bus.

As of January 2021, the penalties for failing to stop a school bus and passing a stopped school bus on the side where children enter, and exit, doubled. It is essential that all motorists understand and adhere to the need to properly stop for school buses, ensuring the safety of all of Florida’s children.

• Passing a stopped school bus on the left side: minimum $200 fine in Florida. A second offense within five years results in a driver’s license suspension of up to a year.

• Passing on the right side, where children enter and exit: $400 minimum fine, requires a mandatory court hearing and may result in points being add to the driver’s license. A second offense within five years can lead to a license suspension of up to two years.

Slow down in school zones

Distractions, such as handheld wireless device use, are illegal in school crossings, school zones, and active work zones and contribute significantly to crashes. In Florida, a crash occurs every 44 seconds, and one in seven is caused by distracted driving. Parents are encouraged to review safety tips with their children to help ensure they remain safe around school buses and within school zones.

Pedestrian safety – look out before stepping out

Pedestrians should always use sidewalks when available, and if none exist, walk facing traffic to see oncoming vehicles. Cross only at corners or marked crosswalks, staying alert and avoiding distractions like headphones or phones; wait for vehicles to stop and make eye contact with drivers before stepping into the street. Never enter the roadway from between parked cars, and if crossing mid‑block is unavoidable, yield to oncoming traffic. To stay visible, wear bright or reflective clothing and carry a flashlight at night. Always follow pedestrian signs and signals, yielding to vehicles when the signal indicates “Don’t Walk.” Parents are encouraged to share these safety reminders with their children to help keep them safe near schools and bus stops.

Prevent vehicular heatstroke – take care of your kids and pets

As routines shift during the school year, it’s essential to stay vigilant and ensure all children are out of the vehicle before walking away, using reminders like placing a purse or phone in the backseat.

Never leave a child or pet unattended, as Florida’s high temperatures can rise rapidly inside a vehicle—up to 20 degrees in just 10 minutes—and children are especially vulnerable to heatstroke, which can occur even when it’s only 57 degrees outside. Leaving a child unattended in a vehicle is a second-degree misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $500, and becomes a third-degree felony if injury occurs. If you see a child or pet locked in a hot car, call 911 immediately; Florida law allows bystanders to take action to rescue a vulnerable person or animal. To prevent accidental entrapment, always keep vehicles locked and store keys out of children’s reach.

Vehicular backover – check first, then reverse

Children should be taught not to play in or around vehicles and to move away whenever a driver gets inside, keeping toys and bikes clear of driveways and areas where cars operate. Drivers should always walk around their vehicle before backing up, remembering that smaller children are harder to see, and instruct nearby kids to stand off to the side where they’re visible. Back up slowly, watch behind you, check mirrors, roll down windows to listen for activity, and stay alert in case a child moves unexpectedly. Although many vehicles now feature rear‑view cameras or detection systems, these tools are not substitutes for physically checking the area to ensure children are safely out of the way.

To learn more about FLHSMV’s Child Safety Awareness Campaign, visit Child Safety Awareness Campaign Data and Resources – Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.