New data shows Texas ranks 22nd for school zone safety, with five pedestrian fatalities reported between 2014 and 2023.
According to a study performed by Bader Law and provided to The Dallas Express, Texas’s school zone crash rate is 40% lower than the national average.
However, between 2014 and 2023, five pedestrians were fatally injured in school zones across the state.
In total, 0.06% of Texas’s pedestrian and cyclist fatalities occurred in school zones, which is slightly lower than the 0.1% that has been recorded nationally.
When including drivers and passengers, the total number of fatalities rises to 26, placing Texas sixth in the nation for raw incident totals.
While this study suggests Texas performs better than many states in reducing school zone incidents, it also emphasizes that there is still room for improvement in protecting students, parents, and school staff.
Seth Bader, spokesperson for Bader Law, stated that the findings underscore the need for even more stringent safety measures.
“This research highlights the alarming fact that more needs to be done to protect the safety of pedestrians and cyclists in school zones. While reducing speed limits is an essential method to lower accident rates, this research demonstrates that stricter regulations ought to be implemented.”
Bader added that many states and cities have implemented technology to improve these numbers, with flashing beacons, warning signs, and additional speed cameras helping alert drivers to slow down in school zones.
Additionally, Bader noted that individuals can also take steps.
“Families ought to know that their safety is being protected while in a school zone, so it’s disappointing to see how pedestrian and cyclist fatalities have increased in certain states. Drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists alike should stay aware of their surroundings while in busy school zones. Ensure that you’re sticking to designated drop-off and pick-up zones and avoid falling for any distractions, such as texting or talking on the phone,” he explained.
Nationally, Indiana was found to have the most dangerous school zones, with 1.14% of pedestrian and cyclist fatalities occurring in school zones from 2014 to 2023.
Wyoming, Kansas, Rhode Island, and Oklahoma rounded out the top five.