As the new school year approaches, with Spring Branch ISD starting on Thursday, August 15, it's essential to prioritize safety for both pedestrians and drivers. With school buses back on the roads and children excitedly heading to school, it's a critical time for everyone to be vigilant.

According to TxDOT, in 2023, there were 748 traffic crashes in Texas school zones, resulting in one death and 14 serious injuries. The most common crash causes were speeding, distracted driving and failure to yield the right of way. There were also 11 people killed and 63 seriously injured last year in the 2,523 crashes involving Texas school buses. Driver inattention and speed were also the top contributing factors in those crashes.

Please take a moment to review these important safety tips and reminders from local law enforcement, TxDOT and DPS to ensure a safe environment for students, motorists, and pedestrians alike, helping to make the transition into the new school year smooth and secure.

For Drivers

• Be Cautious: Slow down, stay alert, and be ready to stop completely when approaching a crosswalk.

• Stay Focused: Keep an eye on your surroundings, follow all traffic signs and signals, and avoid distractions. Remember, using handheld devices in a school zone is illegal in Texas, and drivers are prohibited from sending or receiving messages while driving.

• Yield to Pedestrians: Always give priority to pedestrians in crosswalks by yielding the right-of-way. Avoid passing vehicles that are stopped at crosswalks.

• Understand the Law: Texas drivers should be familiar with the Lisa Torry Smith Act, which requires drivers to stop and yield to pedestrians or cyclists in intersections or adjacent crosswalks. Violating this law can result in a Class A misdemeanor, or a state jail felony if the pedestrian or cyclist suffers serious injury.

• School Bus Rules: In Texas, if you approach a school bus with flashing red lights, you must stop. Passing a stopped school bus with visual signals is illegal, and drivers should only proceed when the lights stop flashing. It's unnecessary to stop when passing a school bus on a different road or a controlled-access highway where the bus is in a loading zone and pedestrians can't cross. Violations can result in fines up to $1,250 for first offenders.

For Pedestrians

• Stop and Check: Always pause and look for oncoming vehicles before entering a crosswalk to ensure it's safe to cross.

• Stay Aware: Put away electronic devices while walking to keep your focus on the road. Always make eye contact with drivers before crossing and never assume they see you.

• Wear Protective Gear: TxDOT advises children to wear helmets while riding bicycles or scooters.

• Help Young Children: If you’re with young children, guide them safely through crosswalks and teach them to watch for vehicles.

• Use Sidewalks: Whenever possible, children should use sidewalks. If there isn’t one, walk on the left side of the street facing traffic, and stand back from the curb when waiting for a bus.

• Board Safely: Encourage children to wait until the bus stops completely and watch for the driver's signal before boarding. They should listen to the driver and remain seated to avoid distractions. When exiting, always cross in front of the bus, not behind it.

In addition to these road safety measures, the Texas Department of Public Safety has issued safety tips for parents and guardians to help keep their students safe, aware and alert as we approach the new school year.

• Ensure the school has up-to-date emergency contact information, including phone numbers for parents, guardians and alternate contacts.

• Keep a current, up-to-date picture of your child throughout the school year on your mobile device that shows identifying information. In the event of an emergency, law enforcement can quickly distribute an updated photograph of your child.

• Talk to your child about what to do in case of emergencies, such as fire drills, active shooter drills, tornado drills or other lockdowns.

• Remind your child to never talk to strangers or accept rides from anyone not previously approved by you.

• Familiarize yourself and your child with their school’s safety policies and procedures.

• Ensure your child knows which adults at school (teachers, counselors, etc.) they can go to if they need help.

• Continue to cultivate conversations throughout the school year on practicing smart safety at school.

As with every new school year, there will be a number of parents and guardians embarking on the organized chaos that ensues during drop off and pick up. Let's all extend patience and understanding during this transition. Share this article on your social media platforms to pass this important information along to your friends, family and neighbors. Together, we can all do our part to ensure a smooth, safe start to the school year for the youth in our communities. 

By Tiffany Krenek, My Neighborhood News 

Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.

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