Newberry police are encouraging the community to be mindful of the start of school and school traffic.

Newberry Police Sgt. Chuck Rogers says everyone should follow these traffic safety guidelines to help students travel safely to and from school:

As a parent

1. Be aware of increased congestion around schools as people drop children off and pick them up. Increased traffic demands extra caution.

2. If you drive children to school, properly restrain all children aged 12 and under in the back seat of all vehicles, and especially in cars equipped with passenger-side air bags.

3. If you have a child who is walking to school or the bus stop, help them choose the safest walking route. When selecting the route, choose the one with the fewest streets to cross and use streets with low traffic volume and controlled intersections when possible.

4. Review pedestrian safety rules with your children. This is especially important for young children venturing into traffic for the first time.

5. For maximum visibility, dress children in light-colored clothing.

As a driver

1. Obey reduced speed limits posted in school zones.

2. Stop for school buses that are loading and unloading students.

3. Reduce speed in residential areas and be alert for late students running to catch the bus.

4. Watch for children riding bicycles to and from school.

5. Expect the unexpected.

“School is open, drive carefully,” warns Rogers.

He adds that officers will be out in heavy force Monday morning as they patrol school zones and enforce the lower speed limits.

Also officers will continue to patrol and enforce school zone speed limits throughout the year, said Rogers.