Bus safety, traffic issues addressed
By Donnie A. Lucas
With the beginning of the new school year, Albany students are heading to campuses daily by school bus, car, bicycle, or on foot, prompting the need for caution by drivers.
Although the first full week of classes at both campuses has gone smoothly, school authorities want to put community focus on transportation safety.
Flashing Lights
Motorists need to be aware that buses do stop on busy streets although drivers try to avoid having any children cross the street. Not all buses have stop signs on their sides, but they all have flashing lights.
“Motorists really need to watch and then wait to move until the bus signals you can,” Albany police chief Mike House said. “Drivers also need to be aware of speed limits at all times, especially during commute hours for students.”
According to Texas DPS, it is illegal to pass a school bus that is stopped and operating a visual signal – either flashing red lights or a stop sign. Those who violate the law could face fines ranging between $500 and $1,200.
A driver traveling in either direction on a roadway must stop when approaching a bus that is stopped and operating a visual signal.
If the bus lights are flashing yellow, other drivers need to slow. If lights are red, they need to stop, regardless of which lane they are in or whether they are behind the bus or meeting it from another direction.
Vehicles must remain stopped until at least one or more of the following things have occurred:
•The school bus resumes motion.
•The school bus driver signals other drivers that they may proceed.
•The visual signal used by the bus (usually blinking lights) is turned off.
Drivers are cautioned to slow down in school zones and to be aware of children walking to and from school or waiting for buses.
Albany has about four blocks in the school zone on U.S. 180 from Williams Street to North Fifth Street. The yellow caution lights are activated both in mornings and afternoons when students might be crossing.
There are also school zones without flashing lights on Griffin Road in front of Nancy Smith Elementary and on South First Street from the bottom of “High School Hill” to the ag barn.
Texting, as well as reading or writing an email, is prohibited while driving on any public road in Texas. In addition, talking on cell phones is prohibited in all active school zones.
The only exceptions to the law are when the vehicle is stopped, the driver is using a hands-free device, or if the individual is in the process of making an emergency call or operating an emergency vehicle.
Though it is not against the law, using a hands-free device is discouraged in school zones.
According to TxDOT, one in five crashes involves driver distraction, and drivers who use cell phones have a higher risk of collision than drivers who don’t, whether holding the phone or using a hands-free device.
Traffic fines are doubled in school zones, and tickets for speeding can be as much as $1,000.
The flashing lights on Hwy. 180 are active during student commuting hours, but local drivers need to remember that the streets near the elementary school and the secondary campus are 24/7 school zones, whether Albany ISD classes are in session or not.
The City of Albany lowered the speed limit on Breckenridge Street that runs parallel to South First Street a couple of years ago.
Concerns at NSES
Parents and other designated drivers who drop off and pick up students at NSES are reminded about proper use of the circle drive in front of the building.
•Cell phones are not to be used in the school zone, including the circle drive.
•Smoking is not allowed on campus, including in cars in the circle drive.
•Do not park in the loading and unloading zones.
•Drive slowly in the circle drive.
•Do not pass any car within the loading and unloading zone in the circle drive.
•For dismissal: Pull forward to the next available loading zone area. Your child will be sent to your car. Do not get out of your car inside the loading zones.
•Students should not be allowed to get in or out of any vehicle unless it’s in the right lane.
•Ideally, in good weather, drivers in the circle drive work in four or five car groupings, with the first car pulling up in the right hand lane past the columns in order to allow enough room for students to load or disembark from several vehicles at the same time.
•The parking lot north of the campus is reserved for teachers before school and afterwards.
•Students riding bikes to school need to step off of the bike once on campus property, and walk the bike to the rack stationed to the right of the front doors.
•Students at NSES can be dropped off in the circle drive or in front of the school. The use of the bus lane to drop off or pick up is not encouraged.
Day-to-day Changes
Parents or caregivers should inform their children of any changes in dismissal proceedings prior to them leaving home each morning.
Homeroom teachers should be apprised of transportation choices for each student, including day-to-day changes, especially for the younger children. Teachers prefer if parents notify any transportation changes for the day in writing.
Parents are asked to refrain from calling the NSES office to change their child’s mode of transportation.
For more information, call the NSES office at 325-762-3384.
Except for students arriving or departing on a school bus, all other entry and departures must now be made through the main entrance in the circle drive.
The elementary campus has been completely fenced to comply with mandated school safety measures and now makes all other doors inaccessible with a pass card. All gates and doors are locked when the bell rings at 7:55 a.m. Visitors must enter through the front foyer to access the building.
Secondary Safety
Student parking at the secondary campus changed some last year and is still in effect.
“Students are not allowed to park in the band parking lot anymore,” secretary Ann Riley said. “Parents can continue to drop off and pick students up from there though.”
At the secondary campus, parents and others who pick up and drop off students can use the circle drive except in the afternoons. The drive is reserved for busses only from 2:45 to 4:00 p.m.
•Students may also be dropped off at the gym parking lot or band hall parking lot.
•Parents are being asked not go past the band hall to drop students off in the cafeteria parking lot.
•Administrators ask that no cars pull into the circle drive from 2:45 to 4:00 p.m. This gives the buses full access to the drive.
•In the afternoon, students should meet parents or other picking them up in the area before or after the circle drive. Students are encourage not to cross the street to be picked up due to higher than normal traffic loads at that time.
