The St. Johns County Sheriff's Office is sending more deputies to school zones across the county, targeting speeding and distracted driving near students.

Operation launches a month into school year

The enforcement operation, first reported by News4JAX, launched about one month into the new school year. It focuses on drivers who speed, drive distracted or otherwise put students at risk. The Sheriff's Office has not released specific citation numbers or identified which school zones will see the heaviest patrol presence.

Parents voice frustration over safety

The push comes as parents voice growing frustration.

"Imagine if it were your kid getting off the bus," Ben Rose, a St. Johns County parent with a 10-year-old child, told News4JAX. "Lives are at stake. … These children are our most precious gift."

Rose said drivers need to follow posted speed limits and stay alert in residential neighborhoods near schools and bus stops. Another parent, William Hernandez, called for stricter consequences, saying drivers who endanger children in school zones deserve tickets and jail time.

School district cites distracted driving

Al Pantano, senior director of transportation for St. Johns County Schools, said the operation should remind every driver passing through a school zone to be "extra cautious," whether commuting or dropping off students. He said distracted driving, including cellphone use, remains a top concern around schools.

Prior report found drivers speeding near school

The concern is not new in the county's fast-growing communities. A traffic consultant's report presented at the Durbin Crossing Community Development District meeting on Nov. 17, 2025, found that drivers were not consistently obeying reduced speed limits during drop-off and pick-up at Patriot Oaks Academy. The consultant concluded that "people are breaking the law, driving too fast through the school zones."

The district enrolls more than 51,000 students. Many ride buses through neighborhoods in Fruit Cove, Durbin Crossing, Julington Creek and surrounding communities.

Duration of stepped-up patrols unclear

The Sheriff's Office has not announced how long the stepped-up patrols will last or whether additional operations are planned. Residents can report unsafe driving to the SJSO's non-emergency line or through the agency's online tip form.