Back to School
Traffic safety campaigns
Drive smart in school zones
As families gather back-to-school supplies, Texas drivers should be gearing up for the return of school-related traffic. That means paying extra attention in school zones and around school buses to help keep kids safe.
School zones can be chaotic places, with people in a rush and children not always watching for cars while they hop on and off buses or in and out of cars. Drivers can become impatient or distracted, which leads to mistakes. In 2025, there were 877 traffic crashes in Texas school zones, a 12% increase from the previous year. Also last year, 2,358 collisions involved school buses. Distracted driving and speeding were the most common contributing factors in these crashes.
TxDOT urges drivers to slow down, stay alert and follow the rules of the road to keep children safe. Parents and guardians can also help teach their kids about ways to stay safe when walking or biking to school.
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 crosswalks. Wait for the signal and look left, right and left again before crossing.
- 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.
Tips for driving in school zones
- Look for flashing school zone lights in the morning and afternoon and obey school zone speed limits. Traffic fines increase in school zones.
- Stay alert and put your phone out of reach. Using a handheld electronic device while driving in an active school zone is against the law.
- Stop and yield to people in crosswalks.
- Drop off and pick up your kids in your school’s designated areas, not the middle of the street.
- Be on the lookout for children gathered at bus stops.
- Watch for kids who might dart across the street or between vehicles.