Schools are back open – drive safely!
On Monday, the Boca Raton Police Department wisely reminded us that Boca Raton schools are open and to drive safely in school zones (see: https://twitter.com/BocaPolice/status/1308024651843612672).
With Boca Raton schools being closed for in-person classes for many months, it is easy to forget about the various morning and afternoon school zones that are part of our daily work commute. Now with Boca Raton schools open for in-person classes, let’s not forget our responsibility to drive slowly and cautiously through Boca Raton’s school zones.
As a reminder, here are the addresses (and school zones) of public schools in Boca Raton:
- Addison Mizner Elementary, 3300 North Military Trail, Boca Raton, Florida 33433 (normal hours of 8:00 a.m. to 2:05 p.m.)
- Boca Raton Elementary, 103 S.W. 1st Avenue, Boca Raton, Florida 33496 (normal hours 8:00 a.m. to 2:05 p.m.)
- Calusa Community Elementary School, 2051 Cline Moore Road, Boca Raton, Florida 33496 (normal hours 8:00 a.m. to 2:05 p.m.)
- Del Prado Elementary School, 7900 Del Prado Circle, Boca Raton, Florida 33433 (normal hours 8:00 a.m. to 2:05 p.m.)
- C. Mitchell Elementary School, 2470 N.W. 5th Avenue, Boca Raton, Florida 33431 (normal hours 8:00 a.m. to 2:05 p.m.)
- Sandpiper Shores Elementary School, 11201 Glades Road, Boca Raton, Florida 33498 (normal hours 8:00 a.m. to 2:05 p.m.)
- Verde, 6590 Verde Trail, Boca Raton, Florida 33433 (normal hours 8:00 a.m. to 2:05 p.m.)
- Whispering Pines Elementary School, 9090 Spanish River Road, Boca Raton, Florida 33496 (normal hours 8:00 a.m. to 2:05 p.m.)
- Boca Raton Community Middle School, 1251 N.W. 8th Street, Boca Raton, Florida 33486 (normal hours 9:30 a.m. to 4:05 p.m.)
- Don Estridge High Tech Middle School, 1798 N.W. Spanish River Boulevard, Boca Raton, Florida 33431 (normal hours 9:30 a.m. to 4:05 p.m.)
- Eagles Landing Middle School, 19500 Coral Ridge Drive, Boca Raton, Florida 33498 (normal hours 9:30 a.m. to 4:05 p.m.)
- Loggers’ Run Middle School, 11584 West Palmetto Park Road, Boca Raton, Florida 33428 (normal hours 9:30 a.m. to 4:05 p.m.)
- Omni Middle School, 5775 Jog Road, Boca Raton, Florida 33496 (normal hours 9:30 a.m. to 4:05 p.m.)
- Boca Raton Community High School, 1501 N.W. 15th Court, Boca Raton, Florida 33486 (normal hours 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.)
- Spanish River Community High School, 5100 Jog Road, Boca Raton, Florida 33496 (normal hours 7:30 a.m. to 2:50 p.m.)
- West Boca Community High School, 12811 Glades Road, Florida 33498 (normal hours 7:30 a.m. to 2:50 p.m.)
Additionally, here are some basic safety tips for driving in school zones.
First: Don’t Speed in School Zones
Under Florida Statute Section 316.1895(5), school zone speed limits are usually either 15 or 20 miles per hour, and are in force 30 minutes before, during, and after regular school sessions.
Second: Don’t Use Wireless Handheld Devices in School Zones
On October 1, 2019, Florida enacted The Wireless Communications While Driving Law.[1] This law restricts the use of wireless devices in a handheld manner while driving in a school zone, school crossing, or work zone area.
Third: Stop For School Buses
When you are on a road with only 2 lanes of traffic, cars in both directions must come to a stop for school buses. When you are on a road with multiple lanes of traffic in each direction that’s divided by a paved median, all drivers in either direction must stop for school buses. When you are on a road with multiple lanes of traffic in each direction divided by a raised barrier, the oncoming drivers do not need to stop for school buses.
Additionally, on January 21, 2021, the fines for failing to stop for a school bus will double from $100 to $200, and if you pass a bus on the side children exit the fine goes from $200 to $400. Further, second offenses for either violation could result in a suspension of driving privileges.
Fourth: Obey Crossing Guards And Traffic Signals
Always obey crossing guards and traffic signals. What is more, look out for children walking and on bikes. Children are unpredictable and can make unexpected changes in direction.
Call Barthelette Law, Your Boca Raton Personal Injury Attorney
If you or your child was involved in an accident in a school zone and want to see how I can help you, don’t hesitate to call. We have experience with children’s injury cases (see: https://barthelettelaw.com/personal-injury/child-injury-attorney/). We are here to help!
We are Barthelette Law, your Boca Raton personal injury attorney!
[1] http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=0300-0399/0316/Sections/0316.306.html