JACKSONVILLE, Texas (KETK) -- AAA said that crashes remain one of the leading causes of death in school-aged children and East Texas officials are warning drivers to stay aware in school zones.

The 2025 school year has begun and kids are excited to get home at the end of the day, but it's a priority students get home safe everyday.

"People get out of the habit. Over the summer, they get used to not being around, not being in the traffic and they get they get impatient, they get anxious," Jacksonville ISD police chief, Bill Avera said.

Avera said the times when the bell rings in and out of school are the busiest on the roads, but now he said there is a third time of day when roads get busy.

"They leave pretty early and everybody's sleepy at 6:00 in the morning. It's an opportunity to re

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