‘Slow down’: SWFL parents warn drivers about speeding as kids prepare to head back to school

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA (WINK) — School zones across Southwest Florida are about to get a lot busier, and for many parents and neighbors, that's when the worry begins.

For Savannah Piercey, a mother of four in Estero, watching people speed through these zones is more than frustrating. 

"It's really scary. It's really alarming that they have just no respect for children's safety," Piercey said.

"They're just blowing through mindlessly," she added.

That's what Tony Haas sees in his Cape Coral neighborhood too. He lives just steps from a school.

"I worry about the kids. It's really not a place that you want to come flying through," Haas said. "The speed limit's 25. It's not 125. There is constant speeding through here. I've lost two animals."

The Cape Coral Police Department said many school zones are now equipped with RedSpeed cameras. Drivers caught going more than 10 miles per hour over the posted limit in an active school zone can receive a $100 citation in the mail.

That's just one way school zone limits are enforced. The Lee County Sheriff's Office said deputies issued 207 school zone speeding citations during the 2025-2026 school year.

"Just slow down and be cautious. Our children are our biggest treasure," Piercey said.

So when those beacons start flashing again, remember to slow down. It's to save lives. 

WINK News requested school zone speeding citation data from the Collier County Sheriff’s Office and the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office. Both agencies said they are still working to compile the data. WINK News will update this story when it becomes available.