Reduced speed limits and active school zones returned across North Texas Tuesday morning as hundreds of thousands of students headed back to the classroom for the start of the 2026-2027 school year.
School districts including Dallas ISD, Plano ISD, Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD, Grand Prairie ISD, Irving ISD, and Mesquite ISD officially opened their doors Tuesday, bringing an immediate increase in morning traffic across the Metroplex.
Law enforcement agencies throughout the region launched targeted traffic enforcement operations around elementary, middle, and high school campuses to ensure student safety.
Under Texas law, drivers entering an active school zone are required to lower their speed—typically to 20 miles per hour—whenever warning beacons are flashing or during designated arrival and dismissal hours. According to the Texas Department of Transportation, traffic fines automatically double for speeding violations committed inside marked school zones.
Local police departments are issuing a stern reminder to commuters regarding school bus safety laws. State law mandates that drivers traveling in both directions must come to a complete stop whenever a school bus activates its flashing red lights and extends its side stop arm.
Drivers may only resume travel after the red lights are turned off or the bus driver signals traffic to proceed. Passing a stopped school bus carrying active red signals carries fines reaching up to $1,200 for a first offense.
Districts and local police departments report no major injuries or incidents associated with the first morning of commute, though officers urge drivers to build extra travel time into their morning routines throughout the remainder of the week.
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