School Zone and Pedestrian Safety

Plain English Breakdown

The bill text specifies requirements for crosswalks but does not list specific types of traffic control devices beyond referencing chapters from a manual.

School Zone and Pedestrian Safety

This law requires that plans for installing crosswalks in school zones or on streets with speed limits over 35 miles per hour include specific traffic control devices.

What This Bill Does

• Requires design and construction plans for new crosswalks in school zones to include certain traffic control devices.
• Specifies that crosswalks on streets with speed limits over 35 miles per hour must have appropriate traffic control devices if they are not at a signalized intersection.

Who It Names or Affects

• Schools in areas where crosswalks will be installed or upgraded.
• Drivers on streets with new or updated crosswalks.
• Pedestrians using crosswalks near schools or on busy roads.

Terms To Know

Crosswalk

A designated area for pedestrians to safely cross a street, usually marked by lines on the road.

Traffic Control Devices

Signs, signals, and other equipment used to manage traffic flow and ensure safety.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill did not pass all stages of the legislative process and died in the Transportation committee.
• It is unclear how many schools or roads will be affected by this law.

Official Summary Text

School Zone and Pedestrian Safety; Requiring that design and construction plans for the installation of crosswalks in school zones or on certain streets, roads, or highways include certain traffic control devices, etc.

Current Bill Text

Florida Senate
-
2026

SB 498

By
Senator Rodriguez

40-00761-26 2026498__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to school zone and pedestrian safety;
3 amending s. 336.045, F.S.; requiring that design and
4 construction plans for the installation of crosswalks
5 in school zones or on certain streets, roads, or
6 highways include certain traffic control devices;
7 providing an effective date.
8
9 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
10
11 Section 1. Subsection (7) is added to section 336.045,
12 Florida Statutes, to read:
13 336.045 Uniform minimum standards for design, construction,
14 and maintenance; advisory committees.—
15
(7)

Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, beginning

16
October 1, 2026, all design and construction plans for the

17
installation of a crosswalk in a school zone, or on any public

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street, road, or highway with a posted speed limit exceeding 35

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miles per hour, when located at any point other than at a

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signalized intersection, shall include appropriate traffic

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control devices that conform to either:

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(a)

Chapter 4J titled “Pedestrian Hybrid Beacons” of the

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most recent Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices and any

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other applicable standards of the department; or

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(b)

Chapter 4L titled “Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons,”

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Chapter 4S titled “Flashing Beacons,” or Chapter 4U titled “In

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Roadway Warning Lights” of the most recent Manual on Uniform

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Traffic Control Devices and any other applicable standards of

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the department. In-Roadway Warning Lights shall be used in

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conjunction with Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons or Flashing

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Beacons to improve visibility of the crosswalk.

32 Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.