What is Florida law in regard to school speed zones and school buses?
In Florida, school zones are governed by the Florida traffic laws, Florida Statutes, Section 316.1895. This statute states that "a school zone speed limit may not be less than 15 miles per hour except by local regulation. No school zone speed limit shall be more than 20 miles per hour in an urbanized area, as defined in S. 334.03. Such speed limit may be in force only during those times 30 minutes before, during, and 30 minutes after the periods of time when people are arriving at a regularly-scheduled breakfast program or a regularly-scheduled school session and leaving a regularly scheduled-school session."

The statute also states that "Permanent signs designating school zones and school zone speed limits shall be uniform in size and color, and shall display the times during which the restrictive speed limit is enforced clearly designated thereon. The Department of Transportation shall establish adequate standards for the signs."

Different types of speed limit signs are used for school zones in Florida. Some have flashers, which serve the purpose of advising motorists when the school zones are in effect. When these flashers are set and used properly, they are very effective. They alert the motorist to the need for caution and slower driving when the appropriate conditions exist. A school speed limit sign without flashers is just as legally binding as a flasher sign. Drivers are reminded to be especially alert during those hours when children are on the streets.

Chapter 316.172 of the Florida Statutes indicates that traffic must stop for school buses. This law states that:

(1)(a) Any person using, operating, or driving a vehicle on or over the roads or highways of this state shall, upon approaching any school bus which displays a stop signal, bring such vehicle to a full stop while the bus is stopped, and the vehicle shall not pass the school bus until the signal has been withdrawn. A person who violates this section commits a moving violation, punishable as provided in Chapter 318.

Any person using, operating, or driving a vehicle that passes a school bus on the side that children enter and exit when the school bus displays a stop signal commits a moving violation, punishable as provided in Chapter 318, and is subject to a mandatory hearing under the provisions of s. 318.19.

(2) The driver of a vehicle upon a divided highway with an unpaved space of at least 5', a raised median, or a physical barrier is not required to stop when traveling in the opposite direction of a school bus which is stopped in accordance with the provisions of this section.

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3. What should a driver do when approaching an intersection in which the traffic signal is not working?
4. How is the placement of traffic signals determined?
5. What is a Traffic Signal Warrant?
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7. What is the justification for a left turn arrow?
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10. Why does it always say "don't walk" before I've completed crossing the street?
11. Can I count on a safe crossing if I carefully follow the pedestrian signals?
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13. When is a crosswalk unsafe?
14. Do marked crosswalks provide better pedestrian safety than unmarked crosswalks?
15. Why are the words "walk" and "don't walk" being replaced by symbols?
16. What is the roadside clear zone?
17. Why can't we use speed bumps on our block?
18. Are traffic control devices on private property required to meet State standards?
19. What is Florida law in regard to school speed zones and school buses?