As Texas students head back to school, Levelland Police Chief Erica O’Bryon is calling on everyone to be extra cautious in school zones and around school buses to help keep kids safe. 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.
The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is urging drivers to be on the lookout for young pedestrians and cyclists as the school year begins and to slow down, stay alert and follow all traffic laws to keep children safe and avoid costly fines and tickets.
TxDOT also encourages parents to start sharing pedestrian and school zone safety tips while their kids are at ayoung age.
“Nothing is so important that it’s worth someone’s life,” Police Chief Erica O’Bryon said. “You’ve got to slow down. You’ve got to pay attention. You’ve got to be aware of what you are doing because that response to a text message or that reading of a text message could be that kid that runs out in front of your car that you don’t see.” In 2024, there were 781 traffic crashes in Texas school zones, resulting in two deaths and 17 serious injuries. There were also 11 people killed and 93 seriously injured last year in the 2,480 crashes involving Texas school buses. The most common crash causes were driver inattention, speed, and failure to yield the right of way.
“We get in our routines, and we get set on where we’re going and what we’re doing, and you have driven all summer long with kids not being there,” O’Bryon said,. “Well, here we are just two or three weeks away from having kids in those school zones. Not that you shouldn’t have been paying
BUS SAFETY cont. on page 4 attention before because you should have, but now having those new factors put in, pay attention to what is going on.”
In Texas, drivers must stop from both directions for a school bus with flashing red lights and an extended stop sign, unless the highway is separated by a physical barrier or grassy median. A center turn lane does not count as a physical divider and those in turn lanes must also stop.
Amber flashing lights mean the bus is preparing to stop; red flashing lights and an extended stop arm mean the driver must come to a complete stop and may only proceed when the red lights turn off, the stop arm is pulled in, or the bus moves.Illegally passing a stopped school bus carries a fine ranging from $500 to $1,250 for a first offense. Multiple convictions can result in the suspension of your driver’s license for up to six months.
For student and pedestrian safety, stand at least 10 feet back from the curb or edge of road while waiting at a bus stop. Always wait for the bus driver to signal that it is safe before crossing, and look left, right, and left again.
“Just because the bus has its flashing lights going and has stopped to pick up the kid, still be safe and look both ways before crossing that road,” O’Bryon said. “That doesn’t give an automatic free-for-all. Make sure the cars are stopping.”
It is important to put away phones, headphones and electronic devices when walking near traffic or boarding and exiting the bus. When exiting a bus, look for traffic around the bus or from behind parked vehicles.
Should children be walking to school, it is important to use sidewalks when possible. If there’s not one, it’s best to walk on the left side of the street facing traffic and cross the street only at intersections or marked crosswalks. Look left, right and left again before proceeding.
Make eye contact with drivers before crossing the street and never assume a driver is aware.
“I think it’s always important to look both ways when you’re crossing the road and understand that if you see the car, be a good judge of distance,” O’Bryon said. “Sometimes it may look like they’re further away than they are. It’s always better just to wait until you see the car pass.”
If riding a bike or scooter to school, always wear a helmet and don’t be distracted by electronic devices that can take the eyes and ears off the road. Be sure to follow all traffic rules, signs and signals.
“These kids are darting in and out and sometimes they don’t have control of [bikes, scooters, etc.], so if they are in the roadway, that doesn’t necessarily mean they have complete control of those,” O’Bryon said. “Just because they’re on the sidewalk doesn’t mean they’re not going to come out into the roadway when they’re not paying attention.” For parents driving in school zones, be aware that traffic patterns may have changed since the last school year. Stay alert and remember that using a handheld electronic device while driving in an active school zone is against the law.
Parents should always drop off and pick up children in the school’s designated areas, not the middle of the street. Keep an eye on children gathered at bus stops and children who may dart across the street or between vehicles. Obey school zone speed limit signs and remember that traffic fines increase in school zones.
“Pay attention, drive the speed limit, don’t be on your phone and wear your seatbelt,” O’Bryon said. “It’s a good reminder to get out right now during this back to school season, but always a good reminder to, stay focused on that you’re doing. Driving takes a lot; you don’t need to add something else in there.”