THAT’S COMING UP IN JUST A FEW MOMENTS. MEDICINE. >> THERE’S NO SLOW ZONE. >> AND WE’RE LIKE, WHAT IN THE HECK, I’M VERY SCARY ABOUT TRAFFIC THEY DRIVE TOO FAST. >> CAPE CORAL PARENTS ARE SHARING THEIR FRUSTRATIONS TONIGHT. SAY THERE USED TO BE MORE SAFETY PROTECTIONS FOR THEIR KIDS NEAR CAPE CORAL HIGH SCHOOL TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE. A CAPE HIGHEST LOCATED ALONG SANTA BARBARA BOULEVARD. ONE OF THE BUSIEST IN THE CITY, OUR GULF COAST NEWS REPORTED JALEN BARRETT IS IN THE CAPE WHERE PARENTS A DANGEROUS DRIVERS AND NEED TO BE STOPPED BEFORE ONE OF THEIR KIDS. HE’S KILLED. >> A CONCERT CAPE CORAL RESIDENT WATCH 50 PLUS HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ACROSS THIS BUSY INTERSECTION. SOME LOOKING DOWN AT THEIR PHONES AND OTHERS TRYING TO BE TRAFFIC TO GET ACROSS. NOW SHE WANTS MORE FLASHING SCHOOL ZONE. SIGNS FOR THE HIGH SCHOOLERS AND DRIVERS. THERE IS NO CROSSING GUARD. THERE’S NO SLOW ZONE. AND WE’RE LIKE, WHAT IN THE HECK LIKE WHAT AM I MISSING HERE ACROSS LEE COUNTY, WE HAVE SEEN AN INCREASE IN SAFETY CONCERNS FOR STUDENTS AS DRIVERS ATTEMPT TO PASS BUSES GENERATING OVER A MILLION DOLLARS IN FINES. PEOPLE PAY PASSING BUSES WHEN THEY’RE STOPPED. >> YOU KNOW, SO I YOU KNOW, I JUST FEEL LIKE PEOPLE AREN’T, YOU KNOW, REGARDING CHILDREN’S SAFETY ANYMORE. GENELLE BENNETT STARTED TO NOTICE A NEW ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN ON HER DRIVE HOME. COMBINATION OF HIGH SCHOOLERS ON THEIR CELL PHONES TRYING TO CROSS THE INTERSECTION OF SANTA BARBARA BOULEVARD AND SOUTH WEST 24TH STREET AND DRIVERS RACING TO THEIR NEXT DESTINATION. A FUTURE CAPE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT TELLS ME MIDDLE SCHOOL DISMISSAL IS NERVE WRACKING ENOUGH. SHE HOPES WHEN SHE GETS TO HIGH SCHOOL, IT WILL GET BETTER. AND I’VE SEEN A BUNCH OF >> KIDS JUST LOOKING ON THE PHONE AND CALLING ON A VENT LINE BECAUSE NEED TO STOP. ACCORDING TO FLORIDA LAW, FLASHING YELLOW LIGHTS ARE NOT LEGALLY REQUIRED. WE DROVE AROUND CAPE CORAL HIGH LOOKING FOR SIGNAGE THAT DESIGNATED 8.20 MILES PER HOUR SCHOOL ZONE AND DID NOT SEE ONE BUT A FEW BLOCKS DOWN AT A LOCAL CAPE CHARTER SCHOOL. >> CLEARLY MARKED SIGNS WERE VISIBLE. BENNETT TELLS ME THIS IS NEEDED FOR CAPE HIGH SCHOOLERS. THERE’S ONE A BIT DOWN THE STREET FOR THE CHARTER ACADEMY, BUT NOT RIGHT HERE WHERE KIDS ARE CROSSING, YOU KNOW. >> TRAFFIC’S NOT BEING REGULATED. SO IT’S IT’S A VERY BUSY INTERSECTION. WE REACHED OUT TO CCPD AND THEY TELL A SCHOOL ZONE SPEED LIMITS ONLY APPLY WERE SCHOOL ZONE. SIGNS ARE POSTED IF NO SCHOOL ZONE SIGN IS ON A ROADWAY. THE REGULAR POSTED SPEE
Residents push for school zone safety improvements near Cape Coral High School
Cape Coral residents are voicing concerns about student safety at a busy intersection near Cape Coral High School, citing the lack of crossing guards and school zone signage.
Updated: 6:43 PM EDT May 25, 2026
A Cape Coral resident is urging enhanced safety measures at a busy intersection near Cape Coral High School, where students cross without crossing guards or school zone signage. Genelle Bennett, a concerned resident, said, “And there was no crossing guard. There’s no slow zone. And we’re like, what in the heck?” Safety concerns for students have been rising across Lee County, with drivers reportedly passing stopped school buses, generating over $1 million in fines and citations. “People passing buses when they’re stopped, you know. So, you know, I just feel like people aren’t, you know, regarding children’s safety anymore,” Bennett said. Bennett said she noticed the potential for accidents during her drive home, as high school students on their phones attempted to cross the intersection at Santa Barbara Boulevard and SW 24th Street while drivers hurried to their destinations. Viktoria Hoppenworth, a future Cape Coral High School student, shared her concerns about the situation, saying, “I’ve seen a bunch of kids just looking on the phone and going on a red light, and the cars would need to stop.” According to Florida law, flashing yellow lights are not legally required near schools. While driving around Cape Coral High School, no signage designating a 20 mph school zone was visible.However, a few blocks away at a local charter school, clearly marked signs were present. Bennett emphasized the need for similar signage near Cape Coral High School.“There’s one a bit down the street for the Charter Academy, but not right here where kids are crossing. You know, and traffic’s not being regulated, so it’s a very busy intersection,” she said. The Cape Coral Police Department clarified that school zone speed limits only apply where “school zone” signs are posted. If no such signs are present, the regular posted speed limit remains in effect.DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.
CAPE CORAL, Fla. —
A Cape Coral resident is urging enhanced safety measures at a busy intersection near Cape Coral High School, where students cross without crossing guards or school zone signage.
Genelle Bennett, a concerned resident, said, “And there was no crossing guard. There’s no slow zone. And we’re like, what in the heck?”
Safety concerns for students have been rising across Lee County, with drivers reportedly passing stopped school buses, generating over $1 million in fines and citations.
“People [are] passing buses when they’re stopped, you know. So, you know, I just feel like people aren’t, you know, regarding children’s safety anymore,” Bennett said.
Bennett said she noticed the potential for accidents during her drive home, as high school students on their phones attempted to cross the intersection at Santa Barbara Boulevard and SW 24th Street while drivers hurried to their destinations.
Viktoria Hoppenworth, a future Cape Coral High School student, shared her concerns about the situation, saying, “I’ve seen a bunch of kids just looking on the phone and going on a red light, and the cars would need to stop.”
According to Florida law, flashing yellow lights are not legally required near schools. While driving around Cape Coral High School, no signage designating a 20 mph school zone was visible.
However, a few blocks away at a local charter school, clearly marked signs were present.
Bennett emphasized the need for similar signage near Cape Coral High School.
“There’s one a bit down the street for the Charter Academy, but not right here where kids are crossing. You know, and traffic’s not being regulated, so it’s a very busy intersection,” she said.
The Cape Coral Police Department clarified that school zone speed limits only apply where “school zone” signs are posted. If no such signs are present, the regular posted speed limit remains in effect.
DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.