With schools starting back soon, now is a good time to remind ourselves about some simple rules for school safety.

There are rules and guidelines for students, for parents, for bus drivers and for the public. Maybe the one that has changed the most because of COVID-19 is the need for drivers to watch for extra pedestrian traffic.

The shortage of bus drivers is causing parents and students to change normal routines, and it is putting more students on the streets walking to school, either from home or from day care facilities. This is something new for the students and something we should all be more cautious about.

Students need to be reminded every day about basic safety rules concerning properly crossing streets and paying attention to school crossing guards. An effort by all family members to start early each day, particularly at the beginning of the school year, is a good way to be safer.

Students in a hurry can place themselves in harm’s way.

There will be many new and less experienced drivers behind the wheel of these large vehicles this year. They need to be aware of the tremendous responsibility that goes with hauling the most precious cargo. They need to practice good habits, which will keep distractions at a minimum. Safety must take a precedent over even on-time arrivals.

Parents need to practice understanding for the inevitable late pickups and drop-offs that will happen the first few weeks. We know it will be worse this year because of the shortage of experienced drivers.

Putting extra pressure on the drivers to make up for everyone else being behind schedule will be a recipe for disaster.

Don’t be that parent. And the best advice for the general public is to please slow down. Leave a little earlier, so if you encounter buses or more pedestrian traffic than normal, it won’t make you late.

Remember the law concerning stopping for any and all school buses which have their blinking lights on. That includes on highways if there are no physical barriers to separate traffic.

Don’t pass school buses (or any vehicles) when there is a solid line down the center of the road.

Be patient, be considerate and be aware. Make 2021 a safe school year for our kids.

— RV