COLUMN: Drivers, watch for school children

Submitted photo.

Ellis County Sheriff Johnny Brown.

The start of school is right around the corner and that means keeping an eye out for school zones. It's up to all of us to watch out for our kids' safety so, if you haven't already, you need to start getting accustomed to where these are in relation to your travels. In Ellis County alone, we have 10 school districts along with several charter schools and private schools to be aware of when it comes to obeying the speed limit in those areas.

Here's some tips from the Texas Department of Transportation about driving in school zones:

• Put away your cell phone. Cell phone use is banned in active school zones and violators face fines of up to $200 in school zones where signs are posted.
• Always obey school zone speed limit signs. Remember, traffic fines usually double in school zones.
• Drop off and pick up your children in your school's designated areas, not the middle of the street.
• Keep an eye on children gathered at bus stops.
• Be alert for children who might dart across the street or between vehicles on their way to or from school.

TxDOT also has these tips you can share with your kids to help keep them safe while they're walking or riding their bikes to and from school.

• Always cross at intersections and designated crosswalks. Look left, right and then left again before proceeding.
• Look for traffic when stepping off a bus or from behind parked cars.
• Make eye contact with drivers before crossing the street.
• Always obey crossing guards.
• Always wear a helmet when riding a bicycle.

Anytime you're driving in areas where kids are, you need to be prepared to stop or slow down. That's your responsibility as a driver. Just like you need to be aware of what other drivers are doing around you while you're driving, you also need to stay aware of what a kid might do, like running out onto the roadway.

The start of school also means school buses are going to be out on the roads. Texas law requires that you stop your vehicle if a school bus is flashing its red lights – and you're required to stop no matter which direction you're headed when those lights go on. It's OK to continue on your way once the bus starts moving again and the lights stop flashing – or if the bus driver signals that you can go around. Violations of the school bus law can be expensive, with fines of up to $1,000.

Parents and guardians who have children riding a school bus need to teach them to respect their bus drivers. They also should teach their kids these TxDOT tips to keep themselves safe:

• 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.
We will be more aggressive than ever on safety issues involving school zones and school buses because it's not worth the seconds you saved on your trip if you were to take a life.

Please, everyone, let's keep our military and service personnel in our thoughts and prayers. We enjoy our rights and freedoms because of their service and safekeeping of our great nation. Y'all have a Blessed Week.

Johnny Brown has served as Sheriff of Ellis County since Jan. 1, 2009, and is a graduate of the National Sheriff's Institute. He has been in law enforcement for more than 20 years and holds a Master's Peace Officer's Certificate with the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education.