In direct response to growing concerns about child safety in school zones, the Fort Lauderdale City Commission has partnered with RedSpeed USA to implement school zone speed enforcement technology throughout the city.
Broward County Public Schools, the sixth-largest public school system in the nation, serves thousands of students in Fort Lauderdale. The number of children relying on safe travel each day makes this program not just appropriate, but essential. The City Commission’s partnership with RedSpeed underscores a priority of protecting children in the community.
Growing data support the need for enhanced enforcement. Florida ranks second in the nation for pedestrian accidents, with speeding involved in about half of all motor fatalities. In busy school zones, even small increases in speed can have devastating consequences. When a pedestrian is struck by a vehicle traveling 40 miles per hour, there is a 90% chance of fatality. At 20 miles per hour, that risk drops to about 10%.
The safety technology is designed to address this risk directly.
“We are grateful to the Fort Lauderdale City Commission for taking action to protect students and slow drivers in school zones,” said Robert Liberman, CEO of RedSpeed. “The Commission’s decision is a commitment to keeping students safe throughout the school year and a reflection of proactive leadership. The safety of children is critical, and we are grateful for the Commission’s priority of protection.”
Following a competitive Request for Proposal process, RedSpeed was selected to lead implementation and management of the program in a unanimous vote. Speed detection cameras will issue citations to drivers exceeding the posted speed limit by 11 miles per hour or more. Enforcement will be active from 30 minutes before school begins to 30 minutes after dismissal.
Results from similar programs across the state show strong compliance. More than 90% of drivers who receive a citation do not receive another violation, illustrating the technology’s impact on driver behavior. Law enforcement officers have recognized the system as a force multiplier, extending accountability to every driver in a school zone regardless of whether an officer is physically present. Safe behavior becomes the norm, not the exception.
The program comes at no cost to taxpayers. Implementation and enforcement are funded through paid citations. More than 80% of the revenue generated is reinvested in schools and public safety initiatives, meaning violators help fund improvements that protect children.
During the first 30 days of implementation, drivers exceeding the speed limit by 11 miles per hour or more in school zones will receive a warning rather than a citation to allow time for public awareness and adjustment.
The partnership between the City of Fort Lauderdale and RedSpeed reflects a shared commitment to student safety. By combining the city’s focus on community protection with RedSpeed’s technology, Fort Lauderdale is taking a meaningful step toward safer streets.
