With the Labor Day weekend behind us, area schools have started the new academic year. Drivers should be especially cautious in school areas, keeping their speed at or below posted limits and being prepared to stop, on both sides of the road, for school buses with flashing red lights as required by New York State law.

To help protect children, AAA offers these six pedestrian-safety tips to parents:

• Look all ways before crossing the street.
• Cross only at corners.
• Obey police officers, school crossing guards, members of AAA School
Safety Patrols, and traffic signals.
• Watch for turning cars.
• Be especially alert in bad weather.
• Play away from traffic.