As a new school year dawns, officials are reminding motorists to slow down, be alert and obey traffic laws to keep Houston-area students safe as well as avoid hefty citations.
For the Texas Department of Transportation’s “Be Safe. Drive Smart” campaign, Public Information Officer Emily Black shared some thoughts on road safety for both drivers and students.
“In the Houston District in 2018, there were 171 traffic crashes in school zones resulting in no fatalities and four serious injuries,” said Black. “We all have a responsibility to keep children safe on their way to and from school.”
She said school zones across Texas in 2018, there were 765 traffic crashes that produced 15 serious injuries and one death. Although this was a 6% decrease in crashes from 2017, she said “still too many young lives were put in danger, and one life lost is too many.” Black added that the crashes were most often caused by drivers’ going too fast, not paying attention or not yielding the right of way.
TxDOT offered some helpful points in a press release:
Tips for Drivers Sharing the Road with School Buses
• Never tailgate. Follow at a safe distance, keeping in mind that school buses make frequent stops.
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• Stop for flashing red lights or a stop sign on a school bus, regardless of which direction you’re headed. Continue your trip once the bus has moved, the flashing lights stop flashing or the bus driver signals it’s okay to pass.
• Violations can lead to a fine of up to $1,250 for a first offense.
Tips for Driving in School Zones
• Stay alert and put your phone away. Using a handheld electronic device while driving in an active school zone is against the law.
• Always obey school zone speed limit signs. Remember, traffic fines usually double 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
• Always walk on sidewalks whenever they’re available.
• Cross the street 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 cars.
• Always wear a helmet when riding a bicycle.
• Don’t be distracted by electronic devices that take your eyes and ears off the road.
• Follow all traffic rules, signs and signals.
Black shared some additional advice to parents whose children ride buses to and from school.
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“TxDOT urges parents to remind their children to be respectful of their school bus driver and listen to their safety directions,” she said. “Students should stand far back from the curb when waiting for the bus, sit still so the driver can pay attention to the road and look both ways when crossing the street after getting off the bus or wait for the driver to signal it’s safe to cross the street.”
Putting these behaviors into place can help Houston-area students have a safer and healthier school year.