Is there a school zone in your neighborhood?

It's a good time to be reminded of school zone laws and courtesies to keep our children safe.  The end of summer means millions of Texas children will soon return to school. TxDOT reminds drivers to be extra cautious as school zones become more active and be aware of school bus safety.

Last year, 663 vehicle crashes occurred in school zones in Texas, resulting in zero deaths and 21 serious injuries. August and September of 2014 alone saw 107 crashes in school zones. The most common factors contributing to these crashes were driver inattention, failure to control speed and failure to yield the right of way at stop signs.

Following these simple tips can help Texas children reach school safely and help drivers avoid costly fines and tickets.

Tips for Driving in School Zones

• Put away your cell phone. Cell phone use is banned in active school zones, and violators face fines of up to $200 in school zones where signs are posted.
• Always obey school zone speed limit signs. Remember, traffic fines usually double in school zones.
• Drop off and pick up your children in your school’s designated areas, not the middle of the street.
• Keep an eye on children gathered at bus stops.
• Be alert for children who might dart across the street or between vehicles on their way to school.

This information and more about school safety can be found on the TXDOT website.   http://www.txdot.gov/driver/kids-teens/school.html

School Yourself for a Sustainable Home and Environment!

Sighing with relief to send the kids back to school soon?  Time to think about how to spend that free time with educational opportunities offered for homeowners by several municipalities. Sustainable living is the theme for many of the educational events in the fall curriculum.

For example,  the city of Plano offers residents free workshops on how to increase your home's energy efficiency.  Another workshop features how-tos. for for the not-so-handy. Learn how to:  

• Use a caulk gun
• Install weatherstripping
• Repair a leaky duct
• Use outlet insulators
• install a door sweep

Visit the Plano website for the August dates and times.

September brings the Autumn Landscape education series in the city of Allen. Edible Landscaping and How to Make a Rain Barrel are two of the classes being offered.  There is a fee for materials for the rain barrel class.  Check out the details here. 

The fall also brings a line-up of "green" events and seminars for McKinney residents. Scheduled  in September and October, featured topics include composting and picking up litter.  Register online and view the full line-up of these events on the city of McKinney website.