Clearwater PD Reminds Drivers To Slow Down In School Zones

CLEARWATER, FL — With students in Clearwater heading back to class next Wednesday, police are reminding drivers to slow down in school zones.

According to police, if a driver is caught speeding in a school zone, they could be fined $456.

"Drivers also need to keep an eye out for stopped school buses; passing a school bus with active red lights will cost you $371," the Clearwater Police Department warned on Facebook. "Let's work together to have a safe school year on the roads!"

Ahead of the new school year, the police department also said its crossing guards recently took part in training to help ensure the safety of Clearwater students when schools soon resume.

According to research by the National Safety Council, most of the children who lose their lives in bus-related incidents are 4 to 7 years old, and they're walking. They are hit by the bus, or by a driver illegally passing a stopped bus.

The NSC offers these safety precautions:

• Don't block the crosswalk when stopped at a red light or waiting to make a turn, forcing pedestrians to go around you; this could put them in the path of moving traffic
• In a school zone when flashers are blinking, stop and yield to pedestrians crossing the crosswalk or intersection
• Always stop for a school patrol officer or crossing guard holding up a stop sign
• Take extra care to look out for children in school zones, near playgrounds and parks, and in all residential areas
• Don't honk or rev your engine to scare a pedestrian, even if you have the right of way
• Never pass a vehicle stopped for pedestrians
• Always use extreme caution to avoid striking pedestrians wherever they may be, no matter who has the right of way