Changes are coming to roadways in Charlotte County as school zone speed limits are set to increase from 15 mph to 20 mph on certain roads, including Boundary Boulevard, Loveland Boulevard, and Midway Boulevard.

Emma, a concerned parent, expressed dissatisfaction with the change. She said that drivers already exceed the current speed limit by 10 to 15 mph, and by raising the official limit to 20 mph, some might take this as an opportunity to drive even faster.

Gerald Troxel, a local resident, voiced his worries about Midway Boulevard.

“Living at this house, I can, I can look up my back door and know that the speed limit signs already on, and I’m like, Whoa, this car just drove by there 40 miles an hour. What are they doing?” said Troxel.

Troxel’s concerns are growing as the speed limit on multiple roadways in Charlotte County, including Midway Boulevard, will be raised from 15 mph to 20 mph.

“The speed limit to 20 is a little overboard. I feel like the kids are more vulnerable to more accidents. You already see it now at the speed limit, posted at 15,” said Troxel.

His family shares his concerns, especially since Alaina, his daughter, bikes to school each morning.

“It’s scary because I always see, um, cars zooming down the road, yeah, and I have to ride 10 minutes to get there,” said Alaina Long.

Jeffrey Petersen also takes extra precautions with his son, Sebastian.

“What does your dad tell you about being careful in traffic and being careful when people are driving?” Petersen asked his son.

“I got told to look both ways,” replied Sebastian.

“But most of the time, though, I still hold his hand anyways, because the cars really can’t see him, the same as an adult. And you know, if you walk through parking lot in Publix, if he goes by himself, they’re not going to be able to see him. So that’s why I always accompany him most of the time,” said Petersen.

Troxel hopes that drivers will not take advantage of the new speed limit change for the safety of his family and others.

“Especially on Midway. It’s a very, very busy street. It’s not a street to play around on, so having adult supervision and somebody helping you get across the street will definitely help the fact of you making it safe across the street,” said Troxel.

This speed limit change will only affect roads with a posted speed limit of 35 mph or higher. 

The school zones affected by these changes are located along the following roadways:

Boundary BoulevardCochran BoulevardCollingswood BoulevardForrest Nelson BoulevardHarborview RoadLake View BoulevardLoveland BoulevardMidway BoulevardPeachland BoulevardQuesada AvenueRio De Janeiro AvenueToledo Blade BoulevardWillmington Boulevard