Safety Tips – Pedestrians and School Buses

Texas has more than 9,000 schools. More than a million children and teens depend on buses to get them safely to and from school every day. They also depend on us to know the law and drive safely around school buses.

Here’s the Law

• Stop for flashing red lights on a school bus, regardless of which direction you’re headed.
• Continue your trip once the bus has moved, the flashing lights stop flashing or the bus driver signals it’s okay to pass.
• Violations can lead to a $1,000 fine.

Safety Tips for Motorists

• Obey the posted speed limit.
• Fines double in school zones.
• Keep an eye on children gathered at bus stops.
• Watch for children who might dart across the street to catch the bus.

Safety Tips for Students

Respect your school bus driver and follow these rules:

• Stand far back when you are waiting for the bus.
• Sit still so the driver can pay attention to the road.
• Look both ways if you have to cross the street after getting off the bus, or wait for the driver to signal it’s safe to cross the street.

Here’s the Law: Pedestrians

• Yield to vehicles on the roadway if you cross the street at a place other than a marked crosswalk or pedestrian tunnel or crossing. If you’re hit while jaywalking, the driver may not be liable, and his or her auto insurance may not cover your injuries.
• Stay on sidewalks and the right-hand side of crosswalks. Drivers are supposed to yield the right of way to pedestrians in crosswalks.
• If the road has no sidewalk, walk on the left side of the road facing traffic.

Pedestrian Tips

• Always cross at intersections. Look left, then right, then left again before proceeding.
• Look for traffic when stepping off a bus or from behind parked cars.
• As a passenger, get in or out of a car on the curb side of the street.
• Make eye contact with drivers before you cross the street.