August is Child Safety Awareness Month and motorists are being reminded to drive safely on Florida roads as children go back to school.
The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) is educating the public on all aspects of child safety in and around vehicles as part of the campaign.
“Keeping children safe as they travel to and from school within vehicles, on bikes or on foot is everyone’s duty,” said Terry L. Rhodes, FLHSMV Executive Director.
“Trends in the department’s data are heartbreaking and it is critical for adults to demonstrate safe driving behaviors to help reduce the amount of tragic incidents that occur on our roadways.”
In 2018, there were 130,055 children age 0 to 17 involved in a crash in Florida resulting in 1,438 serious bodily injuries and 155 fatalities.
FLHSMV is urging motorists to obey school zone speed limits, remain attentive around child pedestrians and bicyclists, and properly stop for school buses. Drivers are also reminded that all passengers under the age of 18 must wear a seat belt. Law enforcement issued 8,761 citations last year to motorists for not properly securing children in a vehicle.
The awareness month is being run in conjunction with Florida Department of Children and Families, Florida Department of Education, Florida Department of Transportation, Florida Sheriffs Association and the Florida Police Chiefs Association.
