Back to School: Accident Risks in School Zones

As the academic year begins, drivers should take extra caution when traveling through school zones. Last year, Texas saw nearly 750 traffic crashes in school zones, resulting in multiple serious injuries and one death. It’s crucial for parents, students and drivers to be aware of heightened risks and understand how the law works in the case of an accident. 

School Zone Safety

School zones are designed to protect children as they travel to and from school with safety measures such as reduced speed limits, increased signage, and crossing guards. But the combination of traffic, urgency, distracted driving, and less predictable behavior from children can increase the likelihood of pedestrian or vehicular accidents.

Tips for drivers and parents

To help prevent accidents in school zones and ensure child safety, parents and drivers should remember to:

• Obey Speed Limits: Always adhere to reduced speed limits in school zones. Limits are often set to 20 mph or lower, depending on the local municipality.
• Avoid Distractions: Avoid talking, texting, applying makeup and other distracting behaviors while driving in school zones. Remember that hands-on cell-phone use is illegal in Texas school zones.
• Educate Children: Teach your children about pedestrian safety, including using crosswalks, obeying walk signals, and checking for traffic before crossing the street.

Accident risks

If an accident in a school zone occurs, understanding the law can help victims and their families seek appropriate recourse. Here’s what you should know:

• Crosswalk right-of-way: Drivers must yield to pedestrians and cyclists at a crosswalk. Drivers who injure pedestrians who are lawfully in a crosswalk can face criminal charges in Texas.
• Increased Fines: Traffic fines for exceeding speed limits and using cell phones increase dramatically in school zones. 
• Child Injuries: Accidents involving children can be painful and complex. In Texas, parents may file a claim on behalf of an injured child in order to seek compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering, or physical impairment.

Contact the auto accident attorneys at Reynolds and Reynolds for a free consultation. Our professional attorneys in Frisco can help you receive the settlement you deserve. Contact our auto accident attorneys here or call (972) 684-5011 to speak with a local attorney today.  Also, don’t forget to follow us on Facebook for more information.