TxDOT gives safe driving tips amid back-to-school season

AUSTIN – Through the Texas Department of Transportation’s (TxDOT) “Be Safe. Drive Smart” back-to-school campaign, drivers are asked to stay alert and help keep kids safe as the new school year begins.

In addition to the 748 crashes that occurred in Texas school zones last year, there were also 2,523 collisions involving school buses in the state, resulting in 11 people killed and 63 seriously injured, according to TxDOT. The most common crash causes were preventable driver behaviors, such as speeding, distracted driving and failure to yield the right of way.

TxDOT urges 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 kids safe, while also avoiding costly fines and tickets. TxDOT also encourages parents to start sharing the following pedestrian and school zone safety tips while their kids are at a young age.

Tips for Driving in School Zones

• Be aware. Traffic patterns around schools may have changed since 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 the right of way to a pedestrian, bicyclist or other vulnerable road user in a crosswalk. The Lisa Torry Smith Act of 2021 enhanced the penalties for failing to follow the law and protect people in crosswalks. Seriously injuring someone who is lawfully in a crosswalk is now a state jail felony.

• Obey school zone speed limit signs. Remember, traffic fines increase in school zones.

• Know where to go. Drop off and pick up kids in the school’s designated areas, not the middle of the street.

• Be on the lookout. Keep an eye on children gathered at bus stops.

• Watch for children who might dart across the street or between vehicles.

Tips for Drivers Sharing the Road with School Buses

• Follow school buses at a safe distance. Remember they make frequent stops.

• Stop for school buses. Do not pass a school bus if you see flashing red lights or an extended stop sign on a school bus, regardless of which direction you’re headed, unless the bus is on the opposite roadway of a divided highway. Continue once the bus has moved, the flashing lights stop flashing or the bus driver signals it’s okay to pass.

• Stay alert for children around buses and remember that they may not always look for vehicles before crossing the street.

• Violations can lead to a fine of up to $1,250 for a first offense.

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 pay attention to crossing guards and obey their instructions.

• 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. Phones or other electronic devices take your eyes and ears off the road.

• Follow all traffic rules, signs and signals.

Be Safe. Drive Smart. is a key component of #EndTheStreakTX, a broader social media and word-of-mouth effort that encourages drivers to make safer choices while behind the wheel to help end the streak of daily deaths. Nov. 7, 2000, was the last deathless day on Texas roadways, according to TxDOT.

The information contained in this report represents reportable data collected from the Texas Peace Officer's Crash Report (CR-3). This information was received and processed by the department as of May 21, 2024.