EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14/ CBS4) — As students head back to class, school zones are about to get a lot busier, and some drivers say the congestion and confusion can be frustrating and dangerous.

One viewer who drives past Bill Sybert on the way home said, “I pass by Bill Sybert on my way home and I hate when school is going on because it gets so hectic with students. I get out at the same time the kids do but I don’t understand how everyone around me is so confused.”

Driving instructors say the bigger concern is safety, especially when children are walking between vehicles or stepping into the roadway. “We have students crossing the crosswalks, getting in between cars. Kids drop their papers or books, they go back and retrieve them. So that makes it dangerous for students to be around these areas,” said Fernando Fabela with the El Paso Driving Academy.

Fabela said one of the biggest mistakes he sees is drivers treating school zones like any other roadway. He said drivers must obey posted school zone speed limits, never pass a school bus with flashing red lights, and stay focused behind the wheel.

According to TxDOT, 877 traffic crashes happened in Texas school zones in 2025, a 12% increase from the previous year. There were also 2,358 crashes involving school buses.

Fabela said drivers should also pay close attention to what type of school zone they are in and follow the posted signs when lights are activated. “So once the lights light up, you know you have to obey the posted speed limit or whatever is posted on the sign. There are different school zone speed limits. You have 15 mile per hour school zones. You have 20 mile per hour school zones,” he said.

Drivers are urged to watch for school zone signs, especially when lights are flashing, and to remember that children can be unpredictable.

If you have a topic you would like to see featured in the “What’s Driving You Crazy?” segment, send an email to mamhernandez@sbgtv.com.

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