My own children may be grown (in fact, Ramzi and Rania have joined the family firm). But that doesn’t mean I’ve forgotten the concern I felt watching our kids head off to school each day. And in my time as an attorney, I’ve seen enough cases where a routine moment turned into something no family ever expects.
Those experiences stay with you. They reinforce just how important it is to slow down, pay attention, and do our part to protect kids in our community.
School Bus Safety Is a Shared Responsibility
Keeping children safe isn’t just the responsibility of their parents. It’s something we all take part in, both as drivers and as members of the community. Every stopped school bus represents children simply trying to get to school or make it home, with parents waiting for them to arrive. That’s one of the reasons school bus safety matters so much to me.
Stopping When School Bus Lights Are Flashing Can Save Lives
When a school bus is stopped and has its lights flashing, that means that children are nearby. They may be boarding or getting off the bus, or they may be crossing the street at that moment. One of the easiest ways we can help keep them safe is to stop for the full amount of time while school bus lights are flashing.
Failing to stop for a school bus isn’t just dangerous; it’s illegal. In Florida and across the country, drivers who pass a stopped school bus can face fines, points on their license, and even license suspension. More importantly, those few seconds of impatience can put a child’s life at risk.
Stopping when the school bus lights are flashing not only helps protect children in your community, but it also helps protect you from consequences that can follow you long afterward. Being impatient around school buses just isn’t worth it.
How Drivers Can Help Keep Children Safe in School Zones
Other than stopping when a school bus has its lights flashing, there are other things you can do to help keep kids safe.
Whether it’s a school bus, a school zone, or a crosswalk, be sure to:
- Slow down in school zones and residential areas.
- Expect children to be unpredictable. Children of all ages are still learning and growing.
- Avoid distractions like cell phones, GPS, or adjusting your radio in high-risk areas.
- Watch for school zone signs, crossing arms, and extended stop signs on buses.
- Drive extra carefully when visibility is poor or light is low. As with all of Florida, Jacksonville gets plenty of thunderstorms, which can reduce visibility even in the middle of the day.
These are small actions that require minimal effort and planning, but can make a world of difference in keeping the kids in our community safe.
Partnering With Duval County Public Schools To Protect Our Kids
Since our founding in 1979, our firm has been committed to serving our local communities, and school bus safety is no exception. That’s why we’ve partnered with Duval County Public Schools in Jacksonville to help educate drivers about their responsibilities and raise awareness about how we can keep the children in our community safe, especially during the winter months with their longer hours of darkness.
With winter break ending and children going back to school, it’s an important time for drivers to focus on school bus stop safety. With increased traffic and darker mornings, there’s an increased risk of accidents at school bus stops.
Recent survey data from Duval County shows just how necessary this campaign is. Most county residents report witnessing drivers illegally passing stopped school buses, and even more express concern about children’s safety when getting on and off the bus. Our goal is simple: we want Jacksonville to be a place where children can get to and from school safely, and parents don’t have to worry every time the bus pulls up.
Why Winter Months Can Increase the Potential Risk of School Bus Stop Accidents
While protecting kids at bus stops is important all year, winter can present additional factors drivers should keep in mind. Most pedestrian accidents occur at night or when visibility is low, such as during storms, which reduces driver reaction time. In winter, kids are often commuting to and from school in the dark at the same time of day that many adults are rushing to work. On top of that, Florida can also see increased traffic from tourists and snowbirds, which, combined with poor visibility, can make school bus stops especially hazardous.
This time of year is a good reminder for all of us to slow down, stay alert, and watch more carefully for school buses and children near the road.
Helping Keep Children Safe From School Bus Accidents
In my years working as an attorney, I’ve spent time with families who are living through the worst times of their lives. Too often, those times began with what seemed like it would be an ordinary day that then turned into something no one could have expected.
We started this campaign because no family should ever have to experience the heartbreak of losing a child due to a preventable mistake. Most drivers don’t mean to put children in danger. But when we’re distracted or in a hurry, the risks increase for everyone.
Respecting the stop, slowing down, and staying alert are simple choices that can save lives. Together, we can help protect the children in our community and give families the peace of mind they deserve.
