A new law is aimed at getting students to school more safely. With parents, Lake County Commissioners, and School Board members in the audience, Lake-Sumter Metro Planning Organization revealed results of a study and what they will have to do under the new law.

State Representative Larry Metz, R-Eustis, was also at the summit. He was a Lake County School Board member when the district first started looking at the dangerous paths some of their students take to school. He found it difficult to get much done.

“At that time the current law was more suggestive than directive, it left too much uncertainty,” Rep. Metz said.

He co-sponsored a bill for student safety this year that requires all districts to take a closer at look at things. In Lake County, they started the process two years ago, examining 3,000 miles of roadways for potential hazards.

“We want students to come to school safely, we want them to get home safely and we want them to get a good education while they are in our schools,” Lake County School Superintendent Dr. Susan Moxley said.

Audience members had buzzers in hand, as they used interactive polling technology to try to come up with the best solutions.

The law defines hazardous walking conditions as roads with speed limits 50 miles per hour or higher or six lanes.

There also has to be an area to walk at least four feet from the road. Drainage ditches and drainage areas are no longer acceptable.

It requires cities or counties to come up with a solution to the problem such as sidewalks or controlled crossings within five years, or explain to the state why they can't fix the issue.

Presenters included a group of Pine Ridge Elementary students with no sidewalks near their school.

“I think the kids are encouraged by all of this interest," parent Kristi Carroll said. "If you see a problem and you bring it to notice, that people are paying attention and hopefully change will be made.”

“I think we can come up with a plan that can identify these needs," Lake County Commissioner Tim Sullivan said. "It may not get done in the timeliest fashion that we’d like to get it done, but we will get it done over time.”

 Until then, the law titled, "Gabby's Law for Student Safety" requires the state to provide funding to bus students with dangerous paths to school.

It is named after Gabby Mair, a Volusia County student hit and killed by a car on her way home from school in 2010.