OCALA, FL (352today.com) – You might want to leave for work a little early Thursday morning. The streets around Ocala will be a lot busier than they’ve been for months. School starts Aug. 10 for Marion County Public Schools and for most districts in north-central Florida.
With buses stopping frequently, school speed zones in effect and cars lining up for drop-offs and pick-ups, your commute will inevitably be more complicated than it has been since classes let out for the summer back in May. So, pack your patience and remember these traffic laws so that you don’t end up with a ticket to top off your frustration.
The Ocala Police Department (OPD) reminds motorists that the speed limit in school zones is 20 miles per hour when the light is flashing. They warn that the traffic fine is automatically doubled in a school zone. And keep your hands off your phone when in a school zone. According to the Department of Motor Vehicles under Florida law, just having your cell phone in your hand could land you ticket. Some schools start as early as 7:30 a.m. so traffic will be more congested in the early morning.
OPD also posted a helpful infographic on their Facebook page to remind drivers about the laws regarding stopping for school buses. On a two-lane road, vehicles driving in both directions must stop. This is also the law for a multi-lane road that is paved in the middle. Vehicles in both directions have to stop. On a highway that is divided by a median, vehicles behind the bus must stop but those traveling in the opposite direction are not required to stop. But drivers are urged to proceed with caution.
For more school bus safety tips, visit the Florida Department of Transportation.