St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office Safety Notice

Dear St. Johns County Families,

As another beautiful summer in St. Johns County comes to a close, the familiar rhythm of the school year returns. With that, I have no doubt you will experience the effects of our roadways and sidewalks being flooded with St. Johns County students.

At the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, the safety of your children remains our highest priority. Our Deputy Sheriffs, once again, spent their summer in Active Shooter Trainings to ensure they feel prepared for the worst possible scenario. We also worked hard to train the many new drivers entering our roadways through our Teen Driving Experience.

However, we continue to see a troubling trend involving E-Bike crashes, many of which have resulted in serious injuries to children. While we are actively working on legislation to help address this issue, we urge families to take proactive steps now to promote safe E-Bike practices.

Safety Guidelines for E-Bike Use

Please take time to talk with your children about the following safety guidelines:

• Obey traffic signals, stop signs, and speed limits
• Slow down for pedestrians
• Wear brightly colored or reflective clothing to stay visible
• Ride in the same direction as traffic
• Use front and rear bike lights at all times
• Riders under 16 are required by law to wear a properly fitted and fastened helmet — and we strongly recommend all riders wear one, regardless of age

Even if your child doesn’t own an E-Bike, they may still ride one through friends or family, so it’s important they understand and follow these rules. Each of us plays a role in keeping our roads safe. On behalf of the men and women of the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, we thank you for your partnership and wish everyone a safe, successful, and enriching school year ahead.

Please reach out to me if I can be of assistance. You can email me at sheriff@sjso.org. For the most up to date information, find us on social media: @teamsjso on Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter).

Sincerely,

Robert A. Hardwick
Sheriff

Want more information about E-Bike safety for your family?

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