The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) brought its new “Be Safe. Drive Smart” speeding awareness campaign to Katy on July 24, with an interactive exhibit featuring safety quizzes, virtual reality games and videos on display in the Buc-ee’s parking lot at 27700 Katy Fwy. The program urges motorists to slow down, to obey the speed limit and to adjust their speed to road conditions (when necessary). “Speeding is the number one contributing factor in traffic crashes in Texas and accounts for roughly one-third of all traffic fatalities statewide,” a spokesperson said in an email to the Katy Times. “In 2025, there were more than 150,000 speed-related crashes in our state, and 1,247 people were killed and 5,652 people were seriously injured as a result.” The “Be Safe. Drive Smart” initiative takes place alongside Operation Slowdown, a high-visibility speed enforcement period. From July 18 through Aug. 2, officers across the state will focus extra attention on motorists driving too fast, issuing citations to remind them that speeding is a choice that can be costly.