By Randell Smith, Senior Traffic Engineer
With August being National Traffic Safety Month and school starting this week, we encourage College Station residents and visitors to stay alert, informed, and responsible while navigating our city streets.
Here are 10 reminders to help you make our community safer when on the road:
1. Be Alert in School Zones
When entering a designated school zone, please slow down and eliminate distractions. Follow the directions of crossing guards and always watch for children, especially near bus stops.
2. Comply with Speed Limits
Speed limits are in place for a reason. Slowing down can save lives, especially near parks, neighborhoods, and pedestrian-heavy areas such as Northgate and the Texas A&M campus.
3. Use Crosswalks
Pedestrians should always use marked crosswalks and wait for walk signals. The law mandates that drivers yield to pedestrians in crosswalks.
4. Watch for Cyclists
College Station has a large biking community, so please share the road and give cyclists at least three feet of clearance. Cyclists should also use bike lanes and comply with traffic laws.
5. Avoid Distractions
Put down the phone, set your GPS before moving, and keep your eyes on the road. Texting while driving is illegal and dangerous.
6. Don’t Block Intersections or Driveways
Stopping or parking in intersections and driveways can delay emergency vehicles and cause unnecessary congestion, especially during peak travel times and on Aggie football game days.
7. Makes a Game Day Plan
With Aggie game days drawing thousands of visitors to College Station, you can expect heavier pedestrian traffic, especially near Kyle Field. Be sure to use designated routes and follow posted signs.
8. Turn on Your Lights at Night
Whether you’re biking, walking, or driving, visibility is essential. Wear reflective gear or use lights to ensure you're seen in low-light conditions.
9. Obey Traffic Signals and Signs
Red always means coming to a complete stop. Rolling through stop signs or ignoring traffic signals can lead to serious crashes, putting you and others on the road at risk.
10. Report Hazards or Outages
If you notice a damaged sign, signal outage, or unsafe roadway condition, call 979-764-3690 or report it with the SeeClickFix app, but never report issues while driving. Your safety is paramount.
Together, we can make College Station’s roadways a safer place for all who live, work, and travel here.
About the Blogger
Randell Smith has been the City’s senior traffic engineer since 2022. He earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Texas A&M in 2005.
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