Last year, there were 746 traffic crashes in Texas school zones, resulting in 23 serious injuries.
As students across Corpus Christi return to school this week, drivers should stay vigilant and obey all traffic laws in school zones.
“School’s starting — put down the phones, slow down and be around that children are in the area,” Corpus Christi Police Department Traffic Section Lt. Michael Peña said. “They might not be paying attention — they’re excited to go back to school. Watch out for them because they may not be watching out for us in the vehicles.”
According to the Texas Department of Transportation, there were 2,305 crashes involving a Texas school bus in 2022, resulting in seven deaths and 51 serious injuries.
Corpus Christi ISD Police Chief Kirby Warnke said that “first and foremost” for drivers is patience.
Warnke said in a text that drivers should be aware of school zones, stop both ways for school buses that are loading and unloading children, look out for one-way streets and avoid cell phone use. Drivers should also “keep a keen eye out for young students crossing the street” and heed all directions from crossing guards.
The most common causes for crashes in school zones include failure to control speed, distracted driving and failure to yield the right of way, according to the Texas Department of Transportation. Disregarding traffic laws and safety guidelines is not only dangerous, it can also result in hefty fines for drivers.
Peña said that the CCPD Traffic Section will be out enforcing school zones in the mornings and afternoons throughout the school year.
“We hope to not have to stop anybody,” Peña said. “That meant that everybody is abiding by the law, abiding by the school zones, speed limits.”
Drivers should be aware that traffic patterns around school zones might have changed since last school year.
In Corpus Christi ISD, the district has consolidated and merged several campuses across the district, including the new Cullen Place Elementary School, which is now located at 850 Belmeade Drive near Greely Drive.
At Corpus Christi ISD elementary schools, school starts at 7:50 a.m. and ends at 3:10 p.m. At middle and high schools, school starts at 8:50 a.m. and ends at 4:10 p.m.
“It’s always best to be vigilant when you’re near a school,” Peña said.
Safety reminders for drivers
- Obey school zone speed limit signs. Traffic fines increase in school zones.
- According to the Corpus Christi Code of Ordinances, vehicles should not change lanes or overtake another vehicle proceeding in the same direction in any school zone between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.
- Families should drop off and pick up children only in the areas designated by the school.
- Drivers should follow school buses at a safe distance, as school buses make frequent stops.
- Keep an eye out for children around buses. Children might not always look before crossing the street or darting between vehicles.
- Always stop for flashing red lights or a stop sign on a school bus. This includes drivers traveling any direction. Only continue driving once the bus has moved, the lights stop flashing or the bus driver signals it is safe to pass. For a first offense, violations can result in fines as high as $1,250.
- All drivers and passengers should wear seatbelts.
Safety reminders for school bus riders
- Students waiting for a bus should stand as far back from the curb as possible and wait for the bus to come to a complete stop before approaching and boarding.
- Bus riders should only cross in front of the bus, after making eye contact with the driver, and never behind it.
Safety reminders for pedestrians and bicyclists
- Children and families walking to and from school should always use sidewalks when possible. If there is no sidewalk, pedestrians should walk on the left side of the street facing traffic.
- Pedestrians should always obey crossing guards and cross the street at intersections or marked crosswalks.
- Pedestrians should look left, right and left again and make eye contact with drivers before crossing the street.
- Bicyclists should always wear a helmet.
- Everyone, including drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists, should avoid becoming distracted by electronic devices that take their eyes and ears off the road.
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