Children in Las Vegas and the surrounding communities are returning to school to start the academic year. For motorists in the area, it means reconditioning themselves to watch for children and obey applicable traffic laws. Here are some points to keep in mind:

School buses

There will be hundreds of school buses driving around Clark County in the mornings and afternoons. Remember that there are several laws that you must observe regarding school buses. Whenever a school bus has its red lights flashing, you must stop. This also applies to traffic traveling in the opposite direction if the road is not divided by a median. You are never allowed to pass a school bus while it is unloading or loading children.

School zones

During the summer, it is easy for drivers to forget about school zone signs because classes are not in session. But now, you must be a bit more vigilant when driving near schools. Note where the speed limit reduction area starts and ends, and make sure that you have slowed down to the posted speed before you reach the school zone.

Aimless drivers

Whenever a new school year begins, there is always a group of drivers present who are unfamiliar with the area. Maybe they are parents taking their kids to a new school. Or perhaps there are recently-licensed teenagers who are driving to high school for the first time. Either way, you should be extra aware of slow or erratic drivers. They may not know where they are going, and it may take a week or two for them to get comfortable around these school areas.

Watch for kids!

Always keep in mind that children, especially younger ones, are unpredictable. They may suddenly dart into the street even in areas which are not marked with crosswalks. Or they may not be aware that they are walking in traffic. Either way, you should strive to anticipate the unexpected when driving around kids.

If your child is injured in a car accident near a school, you should contact a personal injury lawyer.