Austin, Texas, Aug. 20, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As students across Austin return to the classroom, Daniel Stark Injury Lawyers is encouraging local drivers to slow down, put away distractions and take extra precautions around schools, buses, pedestrians and cyclists.
Nearly 70,000 students attend Austin ISD schools across the city. With the new school year beginning, thousands of students, parents, teachers and school employees are returning to their daily routines, adding school buses, drop-off and pickup traffic, pedestrians and cyclists to already busy Austin roads.
Austin drivers will also see increased pedestrian, bicycle and scooter activity as college students return for the fall semester. The University of Texas at Austin begins classes Aug. 24 and is introducing new mobility guidelines aimed at improving safety in high-traffic areas of its main campus.
With K-12 and college students returning at nearly the same time, Austin drivers should prepare for changing traffic patterns and increased activity around schools and college campuses. Drivers are encouraged to allow extra time, stay alert and pay particular attention to pedestrians, cyclists and scooter riders sharing the road.
“When our kids are out of school, we settle into a different routine,” said Will Davis, partner at Daniel Stark Injury Lawyers. “When school starts again, we all have to adjust. It may take a little longer to drop the kids off or get through traffic on the way to work, but those extra few minutes are worth it. Every child deserves to make it to school and back home safely.”
School zones are designed to give drivers more time to see and react to children near the roadway. Drivers should pay close attention to posted school-zone speed limits and signs indicating when reduced speeds are in effect.
Following the speed limit, however, is only one part of keeping students safe. Daniel Stark encourages Austin drivers and families to keep these back-to-school safety tips in mind:
- Put the phone away. Texas law prohibits drivers from using a wireless communication device while driving on school property when a reduced school-zone speed limit is in effect, unless the vehicle is stopped or the device is being used hands-free. Violations can result in a fine of up to $200.
- Expect children to be unpredictable. Young pedestrians may step into the road unexpectedly, cross outside a designated crosswalk or be difficult to see between parked vehicles.
- Look twice for bikes and scooters. Students using bikes, e-bikes and scooters may be harder to spot, particularly at intersections or when drivers are backing out of driveways or parking spaces.
- Know when to stop for school buses. When a school bus has its flashing red lights or stop sign out, stop and give children plenty of room to safely get on or off. Passing a stopped school bus can result in a fine of up to $1,250, and repeat offenses can lead to a license suspension of up to six months.
- Stay out of a school bus's blind spot. Children who need to cross in front of a school bus should walk at least 10 feet ahead of the bus before crossing so the driver can see them. Children should also make eye contact with the driver and wait for a signal that it is safe to cross.
- Always yield at crosswalks. In Texas, a driver who, with criminal negligence, causes serious bodily injury to a child in a crosswalk can face a state jail felony.
- Use designated school drop-off areas. Avoid dropping children off across the street from school when possible, which may require them to cross additional lanes of traffic.
- Plan for a longer commute. Leaving a few minutes earlier can reduce the temptation to speed or make rushed decisions when traffic backs up near a school.
Parents should also take a few minutes to talk with their children about getting to and from school safely. Remind them to use sidewalks and crosswalks when available, look both ways before entering the street and never assume a driver can see them.
“Kids are excited to be back at school and see their friends again, and sometimes that excitement means they aren’t paying attention to everything around them,” Davis said. “It’s our job as drivers to look out for them. Slow down, stay alert and give every child the same care you’d want to give your own.”
A new school year should be filled with new teachers, new friends and new memories — not preventable accidents. Daniel Stark encourages everyone in Austin to do their part to help local students start the school year safely.
For more information about Texas school-zone laws and tips for keeping students safe, visit https://www.danielstark.com/blog/the-importance-of-school-zones/.
Linda McMillan Daniel Stark Injury Lawyers lmcmillan@danielstarklaw.com
