NEPTUNE BEACH, Fla. — Neptune Beach is installing school zone speed cameras; it’s a move officials say will protect students and improve road safety.
READ: Neptune Beach City Council passes ordinance adding speed cameras to school zones
“This is all about keeping kids safe,” Neptune Beach Police Chief Michael Key Jr. told Action News Jax on Friday.
Cameras are going to be installed in the following locations:
- Beaches Chapel School, 1 Lane Eastbound on Florida Blvd
- Beaches Chapel School, 1 Lane Westbound on Florida Blvd
- Neptune Beach Elementary School, 1 Lane Eastbound on Florida Blvd
- Neptune Beach Elementary School, 1 Lane Westbound on Florida Blvd
- Duncan U. Fletcher High School, 1 Lane Westbound on Seagate Ave.
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The cameras are meant to make cars slow down in the designated school zones.
Moreover, city officials and the community want drivers to be aware of their surroundings.
READ: City of Neptune Beach looks to bring speed cameras to school zones if approved by council
READ: Neptune Beach considers an automatic traffic system for school zones, residents split on decision
“I‘m glad to see this initiative, I think this will create some much-needed awareness in the area,” Neptune Beach Elementary PTA Member Emily Mcavity said in a news release.
Neptune Beach Elementary Principal Elizabeth Kavanagh expressed a similar sentiment.
“The addition of school zone cameras is a big step toward making sure drivers stay aware and conscientious in our school zone,” Kavanagh said in the same release.
The installation of cameras helps support the longevity of Duval County Public Schools’ pedestrian and bicycle safety campaign called “Be Safe. Be Seen.”
READ: Duval County Public Schools launches pedestrian, bicycle safety campaign
According to DCPS, at least 13 students have been hit by cars in Duval since Aug. 2024. Three of those incidents were deadly.
“The slower you can get a vehicle to travel, the more survivable a vehicle crash is, god forbid one happens,” Key explained.
Neptune Beach officials did a wide search before deciding to install cameras. They talked to several vendors and even visited cities that already had such cameras.
The city ended up selecting Altumint to provide the technology.
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“The efficacy of speed cameras in school zones is well-documented. In similar programs, we have observed a 71% decrease in speed violations within just three months. These results demonstrate that speed cameras are a crucial tool in protecting our most vulnerable road users—our children,” CRO of Altumint Jason Norton said in the news release.
A 40-day warning period will start on Feb. 24. During this time, drivers will receive warnings.
However, starting Apr. 3, violators can expect to pay $100 per citation. Key said they will only be issued for drivers going more than 10 mph over the posted speed limit.
No points are assessed on your driving record.
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