With the first day of school on August 12, drivers should anticipate increased traffic as children return to school. Kids walking to class or boarding buses can be easily distracted, so it's important to allow extra time for your commute, and exercise additional caution in school zones and residential areas.

To safely share the road with school kids, drivers should:

• Obey school zone speed limit signs.
  
  
• Put away the cell phone.
  
  
• Obey the crossing guard.
  
  
• Drop off and pick up children in the designated areas.
  
  
• Look for crosswalks and prepare to stop.
  
  
• Watch for children running between vehicles.
  
  
• Stop for flashing red lights or a stop sign on a school bus, regardless of which direction you're headed, as this is the law.
  
  
• Do not pass unless: the bus driver signals you to proceed, or the red lights are no longer flashing.