Q: With school having just started in St. Johns County, can you go over the requirements for motorists and stopped school buses?
A: Yes, with schools recently opened, our concern for the safety of our students is paramount. According to Florida Statutes, if a school bus is stopped on a divided highway, then only traffic traveling in the same direction as the bus is required to stop when the bus stops. A divided highway has the lanes of traffic in opposite directions separated by a raised median, such as Race Track Road. If the roadway is not divided by a median, then traffic in both directions must stop when the bus stops.
Q: What other back to school safety tips would you like to share?
A: When a motorist enters a school zone and sees the flashing lights, they must reduce their speed to the posted speed limit. The flashing lights come on approximately a half hour before the start of school and again for approximately half an hour after school dismisses. Check the signs at your school for exact times and heed them.
We have crossing guards and public safety assistants assisting with the ingress and egress to schools, as well as our traffic units and patrol deputies enforcing traffic and pedestrian safety in school zones. Keep in mind that we also have unmarked cars with deputies that move around to various schools to catch speeders.
It’s important for motorists to back-plan their day now that school has started and give themselves more time to get to work or school. Be cognizant of your surroundings. We don’t want to risk the lives of our students because someone is in a hurry.
We want families to go to school safely and we want students to attend school safely. I encourage all families to meet the Youth Resource Deputy at your school. There is one at each school in St. Johns County this year. We want to make direct contact with families via this officer.
Q: Can you clarify the use of sidewalks for bicyclists and pedestrians?
A: If a particular sidewalk is not specifically designated for bicycles, then the pedestrian has the right of way. Having said that, we certainly encourage our young students to ride their bikes on the sidewalk for safety rather than the road (if there is no bike path), but we also encourage common courtesy. Be sure to alert pedestrians on the sidewalk if you are coming up behind them and slow down as you pass them. Also, helmets are required for bicyclists under the age of 16 in Florida.
Q: Do you have anything else to share with northern St. Johns County?
A: As neighborhoods in the northern part of the county continue to grow, I encourage all drivers to be patient with traffic. We want to make our county a safe place to work, live, and play. Slow down and pay attention.
Q: What is the best way for our readers to contact you with any questions or suggestions about this article?
A: They can email me at sheriff@sjso.org or call me at (904) 824-8304. Also, our website, www.sjso.org has a wealth of resources, from alarm registration to Crime Stoppers to our Neighbors app.
