School’s back in session — and you’re back in traffic. Road rules are changing

Traffic admin August 7, 2026 0 Comments

School’s back in session — and you’re back in traffic. Road rules are changing

As school starts again, some kids will moan and groan to their parents about the end of summer. But the students aren’t the only ones who are dreading the beginning of the school year.

Drivers across South Florida will deal with increased traffic, decreased speed limits and constant stops for school buses during their morning and afternoon commutes.

On Monday, Aug, 10, the school bell will ring in Broward County. Classes in Miami-Dade start on Thursday, August 13.

Here’s what drivers should know:

Traffic will increase

In Miami-Dade, the fourth-largest school district in the country, the roads will fill with roughly 345,000 students and over 40,000 school employees, not to mention the parents and friends driving the children to one of 392 schools.

Miami-Dade buses will travel over 11 million miles via 685 routes twice a day to transport 45,000 students to public schools.

In Broward, over 1,000 buses will travel about 650 routes daily, transporting more students to the 322 schools in the area.

And it could be dangerous out there. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, from 2013 to 2022, over 1,000 people died in school-transportation-related crashes nationwide, 198 of whom were age 18 and younger. Of the children killed, 38% were pedestrians and 18% were utilizing school transportation.

To help make sure students stay safe, South Florida police will be on the lookout for traffic violations, especially around schools and school buses. Also remember to pay attention to crossing guards in the street as they help students get to campus.

MORE: Back to school guide 2026

Speed limits in school zones

In Broward and Miami-Dade counties, drivers must not exceed 15 mph in school zones from 30 minutes before to 30 minutes after the school session. Pay attention to posted times and flashing lights.

Even outside of these reduced-speed times, drivers going 10 mph or over the speed limit in a school zone are at risk of tickets and fines.

Miami-Dade County and many Broward municipalities have rolled out speed cameras around schools to stop the pedal-to-the-metal mentality some drivers seem to have.

Since the first speed camera was installed in a Miami-Dade school zone, drivers who didn’t pay the $100 fine have had their license suspended. As of March, nearly 34,000 license suspensions have occurred due to unpaid citations.

Stop around school buses

Even when you’re not around a school, you may still need to change your driving for the buses.

Florida law, like every other state, says you must stop for school buses when their red lights flash and the stop arm extends out.

Those driving near a school bus, in the same or opposite directions, must stop to allow students to board or exit the bus. If there is a raised median in the middle of the road, traffic on the opposite side of the barrier may continue driving, but with caution.

And even when there is no police officer around, and you may think it’s ok to break the rule just this one time, it’s not.

In a collaboration between Miami-Dade County Public Schools, law enforcement and a company called BusPatrol, cameras were installed on the district’s school buses in May 2024, putting constant eyes on drivers around school buses.

If a driver illegally passes a stopped school bus with extended stop arms, they can receive a $225 fine.

The cameras became controversial after a year, when the sheriff’s department suspended its participation in the program due to wrongful ticketing. After state-level changes were made, such as mandating hearings for contested tickets, the school district has reintroduced the cameras, and they are now active again.

“We urge all drivers to remain alert in school zones and neighborhoods, obey school bus stop arms and flashing lights, slow down near bus stops, and always be prepared to stop when children are boarding or exiting a bus,” said Elmo Lugo, the media relations director at Miami-Dade County Public Schools. “A few extra seconds of caution can save a life.”

Broward County has also installed enforcement cameras on nearly 1,300 school buses, according to the school district.

“Following a 30-day warning period, enforcement will begin September 9,” Nadine Drew, the Broward County Public Schools spokesperson said about the automated school bus cameras. “The goal is to deter dangerous driving behavior and reinforce the message that when a school bus stops, drivers must stop.”

Using a phone in school zones

According to a 2019 Florida statute, you are breaking the law if you are holding your phone while in a school zone or in a crosswalk occupied by a school crossing guard. It’s a moving violation and can come with a $60 fine and three license points.

“As students return to school,” Drew said, “we remind all drivers to slow down, stay alert and obey all traffic laws, particularly in school zones and around school buses.”

“By working together and following the law,” Lugo said, “we can help ensure every child arrives at school and returns home safely each day.”