A handful of weeks away from students returning to school, school supply lists are being released and more importantly school safety awareness is being raised.
School zones will see heavy traffic in the mornings and afternoons. School zones can be hectic places with children walking or biking to school, sometimes dashing between cars and hopping on and off buses. Unfortunately, traffic crashes can and do happen.
In 2024, there were 781 traffic crashes in Texas school zones, resulting in two deaths and 17 serious injuries, accoring to TxDOT (Texas Department of Transportation).
The most common crash causes were driver inattention, speed, and failure to yield the right of way. There were also 11 people killed and 93 seriously injured last year in the 2,480 crashes involving Texas school buses. Driver inattention and speed were also the top contributing factors in those crashes.
Tips for driving in school zones: Be aware that traffic patterns around school zones may have changed since the last school year.
Stay alert and put your phone away. Using a handheld electronic device while driving in an active school zone is against the law.
Stop and yield to people in crosswalks.
Obey school zone speed limit signs. Remember, traffic fines increase in school zones.
Drop off and pick up your children in your school’s designated areas, not the middle of the street.
Keep an eye on children gathered at bus stops.
Watch for children who might dart across the street or between vehicles.
Tips for children walking or biking to school:
Use sidewalks. If there’s not one, it’s best to walk on the left side of the street facing traffic.
Cross the street only at intersections or marked crosswalks. Look left, right and left again before proceeding.
Always obey crossing guards.
Make eye contact with drivers before crossing the street. Never assume a driver sees you.
Look for traffic when stepping off a bus or from behind parked vehicles.
Always wear a helmet when riding a bicycle or scooter.
Don’t be distracted by electronic devices that take your eyes and ears off the road.
Follow all traffic rules, signs and signals.
Many students rely on school buses to get them to and from school safely. School buses are the most regulated vehicles on the road; they’re designed to be safer than passenger vehicles in preventing crashes and injuries; and in every state, stop-arm laws exist to protect children from other motorists.
If you are driving, remember these simple rules: Yellow flashing lights indicate the bus is preparing to stop to load or unload children. You should slow down and prepare to stop your vehicle.
Red flashing lights and extended stop arms indicate the bus has stopped and children are getting on or off. You must stop your car and wait until the red lights stop flashing, the extended stop-arm is withdrawn, and the bus begins moving, before you can start driving again.
Even when lights aren’t flashing, watch for children, particularly in the morning or midafternoon, around school arrival and dismissal times. Be alert as you back out of a driveway, or drive through a neighborhood, school zone or bus stop.