Today, it's back to school for Orange and Volusia counties, but some parents are worried about their students' safety.

Orlando’s Mark Riney, a concerned parent, writes in this week.

"I'm a little concerned with all the pedestrians being hit in Central Florida. With all of the kids back to school, how can we increase awareness and change things?" he writes.

Mark, accidents involving pedestrians near the intersection of Silver Star and Pine Hills roads have become all too common in the last several years. In fact, 27 accidents have occurred in the last five years at the intersection involving pedestrians.

"Working in the community, in the local community here in Pine Hills at Evans High School, we've got the statistics that the Pine Hills and Silver Star intersection is one of the most dangerous in the state," said Jarvis Wheeler, Community School director at Evans High School in Orlando. 

He knows firsthand how dangerous the area can be.

"Just last year, we had a student get hit by a car here,” said Wheeler. “It happened right at this intersection, right by the gas station (across the street)."

With Orange County schools back in session on Monday, Wheeler along with local officials were promoting National Stop on Red Week on Friday by patrolling the intersection and reminding drivers of why it is so important at these crosswalks to do so.

Some people, however, did not get the memo. News 13 saw several drivers ignoring the signs and not stopping at the red light to turn right.

"Incidents that happen you know where people run red lights and take those chances and it creates traffic crashes, pedestrian crashes, bicyclists are injured," said FDOT spokesman Steve Olson who was helping to patrol as well on Friday.

The message sounds simple enough, but it's a problem that from time to time that falls on deaf ears.

"It's kind of disappointing,” said Wheeler. “That (students) have to deal with these safety concerns just on the way to getting their education before they even walk in the school doors."

So remember to stop on red and make sure no one is crossing the street before you make your turn, you never know who may be crossing the street with your head turned the other way. Just ask Wheeler.

"Treat them like they were your kids. Even if they might be a little bit too early through the walkway, definitely when there's a red light, please make sure when you are driving through the school's vicinity that you are respecting the crosswalks, respecting the lights. Because this could possibly be your kid," he advised.

Thanks for your question Mark! And if you at home have a traffic issue or problem that needs to be solved write in to Ryan's Traffic Inbox at www.mynews13.com/trafficinbox and just fill out the simple form.