ALACHUA COUNTY – As the new school year gets underway, local and state officials are reminding drivers, parents and students to make safety a top priority when traveling to and from school. From bicycle safety to hands-free driving laws, agencies are working to reduce crashes and keep children safe.
Bicycles Are Vehicles Under Florida Law
The Alachua County Public Works Department is urging families to remember that bicycles are considered vehicles under Florida law, and cyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as motorists. Riders should always travel on the right side of the road, follow traffic signs and signals, and yield to pedestrians in crosswalks when entering a street from a driveway, sidewalk or bike path.
Cyclists are encouraged to remain alert for hazards such as potholes, wet leaves, storm grates and parked vehicles. Personal electronics that can distract attention should be avoided.
Gear, Helmets and Visibility
Public Works stresses the importance of helmets—required by law for riders under 16—and recommends bright or fluorescent clothing to improve visibility, especially in low light. Reflective gear and lights are strongly advised for dawn, dusk, night or bad weather conditions.
Before riding, cyclists should check that bicycles are in good working condition and that helmets fit properly. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) offers a free “Fitting Your Bike Helmet” guide for reference.
Communication on the Road
The department also reminds riders to use verbal and non-verbal communication, including turn signals, pointing out road hazards to other cyclists, and announcing “on your left” when passing pedestrians or other riders.
Hands-Free Zones in School Areas
In addition to bicycle safety, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) and Florida Highway Patrol are reinforcing the “Put It Down: Focus on Driving” campaign, which prohibits the use of handheld wireless devices in active school zones and school crossings. The hands-free law, in effect since 2019, requires drivers to put away phones and other handheld devices while traveling through these areas. Violations can result in fines and points on a driver’s license.
Enforcement and Education Efforts
State and local officials say the law is meant to reduce distracted driving, which is a leading cause of crashes near schools. Enforcement is already underway across Alachua County, with Gainesville Police and the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office conducting school-zone patrols during morning and afternoon drop-off and pickup times.
The combination of distracted driving enforcement and bicycle safety education is designed to create safer travel routes for all students — whether they walk, bike or ride in a car or bus. Officials urge drivers to slow down, be alert for children crossing the street, and respect the reduced speed limits in school zones.
For more information on bicycle safety, contact Alachua County Public Works Senior Engineering Technician Clark Collins at 352-548-1271 or email cccollins@alachuacounty.us. Details on Florida’s hands-free driving law are available at www.flhsmv.gov.
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Email cwalker@
alachuatoday.com
ALACHUA COUNTY – As the new school year gets underway, local and state officials are reminding drivers, parents and students to make safety a top priority when traveling to and from school. From bicycle safety to hands-free driving laws, agencies are working to reduce crashes and keep children safe.
Bicycles Are Vehicles Under Florida Law
The Alachua County Public Works Department is urging families to remember that bicycles are considered vehicles under Florida law, and cyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as motorists. Riders should always travel on the right side of the road, follow traffic signs and signals, and yield to pedestrians in crosswalks when entering a street from a driveway, sidewalk or bike path.
Cyclists are encouraged to remain alert for hazards such as potholes, wet leaves, storm grates and parked vehicles. Personal electronics that can distract attention should be avoided.
Gear, Helmets and Visibility
Public Works stresses the importance of helmets—required by law for riders under 16—and recommends bright or fluorescent clothing to improve visibility, especially in low light. Reflective gear and lights are strongly advised for dawn, dusk, night or bad weather conditions.
Before riding, cyclists should check that bicycles are in good working condition and that helmets fit properly. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) offers a free “Fitting Your Bike Helmet” guide for reference.
Communication on the Road
The department also reminds riders to use verbal and non-verbal communication, including turn signals, pointing out road hazards to other cyclists, and announcing “on your left” when passing pedestrians or other riders.
Hands-Free Zones in School Areas
In addition to bicycle safety, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) and Florida Highway Patrol are reinforcing the “Put It Down: Focus on Driving” campaign, which prohibits the use of handheld wireless devices in active school zones and school crossings. The hands-free law, in effect since 2019, requires drivers to put away phones and other handheld devices while traveling through these areas. Violations can result in fines and points on a driver’s license.
Enforcement and Education Efforts
State and local officials say the law is meant to reduce distracted driving, which is a leading cause of crashes near schools. Enforcement is already underway across Alachua County, with Gainesville Police and the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office conducting school-zone patrols during morning and afternoon drop-off and pickup times.
The combination of distracted driving enforcement and bicycle safety education is designed to create safer travel routes for all students — whether they walk, bike or ride in a car or bus. Officials urge drivers to slow down, be alert for children crossing the street, and respect the reduced speed limits in school zones.
For more information on bicycle safety, contact Alachua County Public Works Senior Engineering Technician Clark Collins at 352-548-1271 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Details on Florida’s hands-free driving law are available at www.flhsmv.gov.
# # #
Email cwalker@
alachuatoday.com