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Back to school means back to driving safely in the school zones.
Area schools will be back in session as the new week progresses and it’s time to get back in the habit of driving extra careful both in and around our neighborhood school zones.
Shawn Vaughn the Public Information Officer with the Texarkana Texas Police Department has four main tips to keep from getting a ticket and more importantly keeping our children safe.
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Watch your speed. Look out for those birght yellow school zone signs. Drivers are required to follow the speed limit instructions posted on these signs. Some signs have flashing yellow lights that tell you when the speed limit is in effect, and other have times listed on the sign. Either way slow down or expect a ticket. Fines for speeding in school zones start at $250 and depending how fast you are going, can even go up to about $300.
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Put down the phone. Cell phone use is prohibited while in a school zone. This includes both tlaking and texting on your phone. The only exceoptions are in vehicles that are stopped or drivers who are using hands-free devices. Fines are $254.
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Obey the crossing guard. Drivers can get a ticket for not following the directions of a crossing guard. One of these tickets will set you back $280. For safety sake, both children and parents who are walking to school need to make sure they are crossing the street in a marked crosswalk or with a crossing guard.
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School buses have the right of way. The law requires drivers stop for a school bus when the flashing red lights are activated. You can only pass a school bus when the lights are no longer flashing, you are signaled by the bus driver to proceed, or the bus has resumed moving. Drivers are not required to stop for a bus when they on a controlled-access highway and pedestrians are not permitted to cross. The fine for passing a school bus is $625. We are very serious about the safety of our children. While we don’t want to write anyone a citation, we know that doing that might just save a life of a child.