Back To School Safety On The Road

Every August, families across Broward County settle back into the school-year routine of backpacks, lunches, and getting kids out the door on time. For children who walk, bike, or ride a scooter to school, especially if it is their first time doing so without a parent, the commute is also one of the times of day when they face the most exposure to traffic. A handful of consistent habits can meaningfully lower the risk of a serious accident on the way to or from campus.

At the Law Offices of Scott Sobol, we have represented Broward County families for more than twenty years, including parents whose children were injured in accidents involving a careless or distracted driver near a school. Below, we cover the walking, biking, and crossing-street habits that matter most, what Florida law requires of drivers in school zones, and the steps to take if your child is ever hurt in an accident because of a driver’s negligence.

When Is a Child Ready to Walk or Bike to School Alone?

There is no single age that applies to every child, but most safety organizations note that children typically are not ready to walk to school without an adult until around age ten, or roughly fifth grade. Younger children are more impulsive around traffic and often do not yet understand how far away an approaching car really is or how long it takes to stop.

Before letting your child walk or bike to school alone, walk or ride the route with them several times first. Point out intersections, crossing guards, and any spots where visibility is limited by parked cars, hedges, or fences. If several families in your neighborhood are heading the same direction, consider organizing a walking or biking group so children travel together rather than alone.

Pedestrian Safety Tips for the Walk to School

Most pedestrian crashes involving children happen mid-block rather than at intersections, which is why teaching your child to cross only at designated corners and crosswalks matters as much as teaching them to look both ways. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more than 1,000 people died in school-transportation-related crashes between 2013 and 2022, and roughly 38 percent of the children killed in those crashes were pedestrians. Review the following habits with your child before the first day of school and reinforce them throughout the year.

• Use sidewalks whenever they are available, and if there is no sidewalk, walk facing oncoming traffic so your child can see and react to approaching vehicles.
• Cross only at marked crosswalks or intersections, and stop at the curb to look left, right, and left again before stepping into the street.
• Make eye contact with drivers before crossing in front of a stopped vehicle, since a driver who has not seen a child may begin moving without warning.
• Put phones away while walking. A child looking down at a screen is far less likely to notice an approaching car or a driver who has failed to stop.
• Wear bright or reflective clothing, particularly during the early morning and late afternoon hours when visibility is lower and drivers are more likely to be rushing.

If your child rides the bus, remind them to stand well back from the curb while waiting and to wait for the driver’s signal before crossing in front of the bus.

Bicycle and Scooter Safety Rules Every Child Should Know

Bicycles and scooters introduce their own set of risks, largely because a child on wheels moves faster and covers more distance than a child on foot, often crossing more intersections and driveways along the route. A properly fitted helmet is the single most important piece of safety equipment your child can wear, since research has shown helmets meaningfully reduce the risk of head and facial injury in a crash. Knee and elbow pads are not essential, but they can help your child avoid scrapes and bruises from a minor fall.

Riders should travel in the same direction as traffic, staying as far to the right as is practical, and use a bike lane when one is available. They should come to a complete stop at every intersection, whether or not it is marked with a stop sign, and use hand signals before turning so drivers know what to expect. When crossing at an intersection, it is safer for a young rider to walk the bike across rather than ride through moving traffic. Bikes and scooters should be checked periodically for proper tire pressure, working brakes, and a seat height that lets your child keep full control of the handlebars.

Florida School Zone Traffic Laws

Florida law gives school zones special protection because of how many children are present during arrival and dismissal. Drivers passing through a posted school zone must obey the reduced speed limit, which is typically twenty miles per hour during the posted hours, and many Florida school zones use automated speed detection systems to help enforce these limits. Drivers are also prohibited from passing a vehicle that has stopped for a pedestrian in a crosswalk within a school zone, and, as noted above, must stop for a school bus with its lights flashing and stop arm extended on undivided roads.

These laws exist because children are unpredictable near roadways, and drivers are expected to exercise extra caution in these areas. When a driver ignores a posted school zone speed limit, fails to stop for a school bus, or passes a vehicle stopped for a pedestrian, and a child is hurt as a result, that violation can be important evidence of negligence in a personal injury claim.

Common Injuries Children Suffer in School-Route Accidents

Children involved in a pedestrian or bicycle accident near school can suffer a wide range of injuries, from road rash and fractures to more serious head and spinal injuries. Because children’s bodies are still developing, an injury that looks minor at first, such as a mild head bump, can turn out to be more significant once a doctor examines your child. Some injuries, including concussions, do not show obvious symptoms right away, which is one of the main reasons prompt medical evaluation matters after any collision, regardless of how the accident happened.

What to Do if Your Child Is Injured in an Accident Near School

Even with every precaution in place, accidents still happen. If your child is ever hit by a vehicle while walking, biking, or scootering to or from school, the steps you take in the following hours and days can affect both their recovery and any potential claim for compensation.

Get Help First

If any injury has occurred, even one that seems minor, seek medical attention right away. Some injuries are not obvious immediately and are better caught early than discovered later.

Write It Down

As soon as you are able, work with your child to write down everything you both remember about the accident: where it happened, the time of day, the weather and lighting conditions, and anything the driver said at the scene.

Document Everything

Take photographs of the accident scene, the vehicle involved, and any visible injuries as soon as possible. If your child received emergency treatment, request copies of the medical records, and keep a simple log of any symptoms that appear or change over the following days and weeks.

Preserve the Evidence

If a bicycle, scooter, or helmet was involved in the accident, do not have it repaired, cleaned, or replaced. Leave it in the condition it was in immediately after the crash, and avoid washing your child’s clothing, since all of this can serve as physical evidence if a claim becomes necessary.

Seek Professional Advice

Accidents involving children, drivers, and school zones can raise legal questions that are difficult to navigate on your own, particularly once an insurance company gets involved. Speaking with an attorney early can help you understand your options and avoid mistakes that could affect your child’s claim.

How the Law Offices of Scott Sobol Can Help Your Family

Scott Sobol has spent more than two decades representing Broward County families, including cases involving pedestrian accidents and children injured near schools and neighborhoods. We handle every case on a contingency fee basis, meaning you owe us nothing unless we recover compensation on your behalf, and we work to take the legal burden off your shoulders so you can focus on your child’s recovery.

If your child has been injured in an accident on the way to or from school, we encourage you to reach out and discuss what happened. You can learn more about our personal injury practice or complete our contact form to schedule a free consultation.

Frequently Asked Questions About Back-to-School Road Safety