With the new school year approaching, Rockland County is reminding drivers, parents, caregivers and students to take extra precautions as more children return to local roads, sidewalks and bus stops during busy morning and afternoon hours.

County officials said younger children can be especially difficult for motorists to see, while some students may be using a new bus stop, crossing unfamiliar streets or walking to school for the first time.

Through its federally funded Safe Streets program, the County is urging students to arrive at bus stops at least five minutes early, remain at least 10 feet from the curb, wait for the bus to come to a complete stop before boarding, and look left, right and left again before crossing the street. Children are also reminded never to walk behind a school bus and to alert the driver if they drop something near the vehicle rather than attempting to retrieve it themselves.

Drivers are being urged to slow down near schools and neighborhood bus stops and remain alert for children. Yellow flashing lights on a school bus indicate that it is preparing to stop, while red flashing lights mean motorists must stop.

Under New York State law, drivers approaching a school bus with flashing red lights must stop at least 20 feet away in either direction, including on two-lane roads, multi-lane highways and divided highways.

The County’s “Eyes on the Road, Rockland” campaign is encouraging everyone to stay alert and help ensure students get to and from school safely.

Rockland County’s Safe Streets program is funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration through a grant from the New York State Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee.