By Rick DeLeon
Matagorda County Sheriff
The 2025-2026 school year has begun for our students. The Matagorda County Sheriff’s Office would like to remind drivers to be both cautious and courteous around, schools, school buses and pedestrians..
“The U.S. Department of Transportation Highway Traffic Safety Administration urged everyone to be alert as children head back to school.
NHTSA reminds all drivers to watch out for children and follow all traffic laws, including speed limits in school zones, yielding to pedestrians in crosswalks, and not passing school buses when their lights are flashing and stop arms are extended..
Drivers should slow down and prepare when a school bus’s yellow lights are flashing.
Drivers must come to a complete stop and wait when a bus’s red lights are flashing and its stop-arm is extended.
It is illegal to speed up and pass a bus’s red lights as it slows to a stop with its yellow lights flashing or is stopped with its red lights flashing.
Drivers may proceed only after the bus’s lights have stopped flashing and the bus has begun moving again.
Even when a bus’s lights doesn’t have flashing lights, drivers should exercise caution for children who may be crossing unexpectedly..
Parents should teach their children to arrive at the bus stop at least five minutes before the bus is scheduled to be there and to play it SAFE..
* Stay at least ten feet-five giant steps-away from the curb
* Always wait for the bus to stop completely and the bus driver to signal it’s safe to board..
* Face forward after finding a seat on the bus..
*Exit the bus after it stops, wait for the bus driver to signal it’s safe to cross, and then look left-right-left for cars before crossing a street in front of the bus, never behind..
Drivers should give bicyclists enough room on the road, being careful not to pass too closely, and look left-right-left and behind when turning right on red.
Drivers should also yield to bicyclists as they would to motorists and be careful not to underestimate a bicyclist’s speed..
* Always wear a correctly fitted helmet and securely fasten the chin strap
* Use bike lanes or paths whenever possible.
* Ride in the same direction as traffic and follow signs and signals
* Never use electronics while riding
Drivers should always look out for pedestrians everywhere, follow the speed limit-especially in school zones and neighborhoods- and use caution at dark or in other hard-to-see conditions..
Parents should walk with their children who are 10 years old and younger and teach children to:
* Use sidewalks or walk on the edge of the street facing traffic if a sidewalk isn’t available..
* Use marked crosswalks to cross the street and look left-right-left before crossing..
* Make sure to never play, push or shove others around traffic..
* Put phones away and pay attention when walking..
Parents of teens should set the example for safe driving and remind teens to:
* Put their phone away-distracted driving is dangerous..
* Limit the number of passengers to reduce distractions..
* Ensure everyone has their seatbelts on before driving..
* Follow posted speed limits..
The Sheriff’s Office wants to welcome all students back to class and we know you will have a wonderful school year!