ORLANDO, Fla. — Families across Central Florida are getting ready for the first day of school Monday. But as they prepare to head back to the classroom, leaders and law enforcement agencies want to make sure everyone is keeping traffic safety top of mind.
Every year, Orange County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO) comes up with a plan to ensure safety around school zones especially during the first week of classes.
Sgt. Laith Kareem has been with the agency for 21 years, he works at the traffic enforcement motor unit.
“During back to school, we always increase enforcement specifically around schools and school zones. Uniformed patrol division sends extra deputies to monitor school areas, as well as the school resource officers who are in the schools every day,” Kareem said.
According to OCSO, this year they will have more than 20 full-time motor units, patrol cars, up to 50 additional crews and more than 10 officers in unmarked vehicles.
“Safety around schools is always a top priority, not just for the sheriff’s office, but our traffic engineering. When they design subdivisions and communities, and they place these schools inside of there. They specifically look at what routes are going to be the travel paths for these students to come to school,” Kareem said.
In August 2024, Orange County adopted the Vision Zero Action Plan with the goal to eliminate fatalities and severe injuries in their transportation system by 2040.
Traffic Engineer and Division Manager for Orange County Public Works Humberto Castillero said they have focused their efforts on Oak Ridge Road corridor, a busy segment with two schools Sadler Elementary and Westridge Middle School.
“Safety it is embedded in any project that we do in Orange County. This area you have a lot of pedestrians, not only kids going to school, we have the Westridge, but also, we have the Sadler Elementary School but also this is a transit corridor where a lot of people are walking and using the transit as part of their transportation system,” Castillero said.
Last April, a 16-year-old Oak Ridge High School student was hit and killed by a car while she was crossing the road to get to school.
The county has been working on a pedestrian improvement project in the Oak Ridge Corridor that includes the installation of posted speed limit reductions, warning signs, and traffic calming measures like humps, raised x-walks, tables, among others.
They have also added mid-block crossings and widened the sidewalks to make it safer for students walking or riding a bike to school.
“Since there is no bike lane here, at least on that side it’s a little bit wider so the kids not only can walk, but also they can ride,” Castillero said.
They also added a raised median and landscaping to make sure the middle lane section was not used for speeding. Along with pedestrian fencing in the median to restrict and guide the pedestrians to cross at a crosswalk.
The county also added pedestrian signals and a Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon for crossing the street. The way it works is when pedestrians push a button, the lights start flashing, and after checking the cars have stopped, they can start crossing the street.
“It’s always good to engage and to try to see them and to tell them as they are flashing, so they can acknowledge that we are crossing as well,” Castillero said.
He said as students, drivers and riders share the road, they also share a responsibility to keep everyone safe.
“Get familiar with the route, be patient. We have kids, and if you have kids, you know that you can expect the unexpected. Just make sure that you are on the lookout,” Castillero said.
Kareem added the best advice for parents and daily commuters as they get ready for the first day of school is to pay close attention while driving in a school zone, avoid distractions and be patient.
“Leave with plenty of time. Don’t push it until the last moment, because then you will push the boundaries of your speed. And in a school zone that can be up to a $454 fine. Not to mention the fact that you’re putting lives in danger when you do that,” Kareem said.
And for students walking to school, he recommended doing so in groups, with friends who already know the area.
“They can help you find the safest way to get to school. Walk with your older brothers or sisters who have been to that school already. And just again, with the children, leave with enough time so you’re not rushing and trying to take the shortcuts,” Kareem said.
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