All three school districts serving Murphy, Wylie and Sachse are back in session, and the Texas Department of Transportation wants drivers to know: school zone crashes jumped 12% last year.

Garland ISD students returned Monday, Aug. 10. Plano ISD followed Wednesday, Aug. 12, and Wylie ISD opened its doors Thursday, Aug. 13. That means flashing school zone lights, crossing guards and yellow buses are back on local roads during morning and afternoon hours.

The numbers behind TxDOT's urgency are stark. In 2025, Texas recorded 877 crashes in school zones and 2,358 collisions involving school buses, according to TxDOT data processed through June 30, 2026. Combined, that's more than 3,200 school-related crashes in a single year. Distracted driving and speeding were the most common contributing factors.

TxDOT's "Be Safe. Drive Smart. Back to School" campaign, launched Aug. 3, reminds drivers that traffic fines increase in active school zones and that using a handheld device while driving through one is illegal under Texas law.

Passing a school bus displaying flashing red lights or an extended stop sign carries a fine of up to $1,250 for a first offense. The rule applies regardless of which direction a driver is traveling, unless the bus is on the opposite side of a divided highway.

The stakes go beyond fines. Under the Lisa Torry Smith Act of 2021, seriously injuring someone lawfully in a crosswalk is a state jail felony.

New campuses mean new traffic patterns

Drivers in the Wylie East corridor have an additional reason to stay alert. Two brand-new Wylie ISD campuses opened Aug. 13 off Kreymer Lane between Brown Street and Mossy Oak Lane: O.W. Hampton Intermediate and Richard Parker Junior High, as we reported July 29. The $136.3 million pair of schools will generate traffic patterns that did not exist last school year.

TxDOT advises drivers to obey posted school zone speeds, stop and yield to pedestrians in crosswalks, use designated drop-off and pick-up areas rather than the street, watch for children darting between vehicles at bus stops and keep phones out of reach.

School zone speed limits are in effect whenever lights are flashing during school hours. Residents can find more information at DriveLikeATexan.com.