Fort Walton Beach asks motorists to give students extra space on roads and at bus stops as school year begins

Fort Walton Beach, Florida – Tuesday morning will bring more than the usual traffic to Fort Walton Beach. With Okaloosa County students heading back to class on Aug. 11, school buses will be making their rounds again, children will be crossing neighborhood streets, and school zones will return to full activity.

The City of Fort Walton Beach is asking drivers to adjust accordingly. Its message for the first week of school is simple: slow down, stay alert and give yourself more time to get where you are going.

Fort Walton Beach is joining the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles in encouraging motorists, parents, caregivers and students to “Know Their Zone.” The safety message focuses on areas where children are most likely to encounter traffic, including school zones, bus stops and neighborhood streets used for walking, biking and student pickup and drop-off.

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Drivers are being reminded to pay close attention to posted school-zone speed limits and watch carefully for children near roadways. With school buses returning to their regular routes, motorists should also expect traffic patterns and travel times to look different from those experienced during the summer break.

The warning applies beyond the immediate area around school campuses. Students may be walking or riding bicycles through residential neighborhoods, waiting at bus stops or moving through pickup areas where vehicles and pedestrians are sharing limited space.

Allowing a few extra minutes for the morning and afternoon commute can reduce the pressure to rush through areas where students are present.

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As the 2026-27 school year begins across Okaloosa County, Fort Walton Beach officials are asking the community to make traffic safety part of the back-to-school routine. Knowing school-zone speeds, remaining alert and planning for additional travel time can help students begin the year safely.