Schools in Limestone started the 2022-2023 year this week, which begs the age-old question: where did summer go?

We wish we had the answer.

With nearly 13,000 children across Limestone’s county and city schools going back to school now, it’s important to keep any eye out for students whether they are walking or cycling to school, riding the bus or driving themselves.

According to AAA, “Children are particularly vulnerable during the afternoon hours following their school day. Over the last decade, nearly one-third of child pedestrian fatalities occurred between 3 and 6 p.m.”

AAA offered these tips to keep children safe this school year, and these suggestions can be applied to everyday driving:

• Slow down. Speed limits in school zones are reduced for a reason. A pedestrian struck by a vehicle traveling 25 mph is nearly two-thirds less likely to be killed compared to a pedestrian struck by a vehicle traveling just 10 mph faster. A difference between 25 mph and 35 mph can save a life.

• Eliminate distractions. Children often cross the road unexpectedly and may emerge suddenly between two parked cars. Research shows that taking your eyes off the road for just two seconds doubles your chances of crashing.

• Reverse responsibly. Every vehicle has blind spots. Check for children on the sidewalk, driveway and around your vehicle before slowly backing up. Teach your children to never play in, under or around vehicles — even those that are parked.

• Talk to your teen. Car crashes are one of the leading causes of death for teens in the United States, and more than one-quarter of fatal crashes involving teen drivers occur during the after-school hours of 3 to 7 p.m.

• Come to a complete stop. Research shows that more than one-third of drivers roll through stop signs in school zones or neighborhoods. Always come to a complete stop, checking carefully for children on sidewalks and in crosswalks before proceeding.

• Watch for bicycles. Children on bicycles are often inexperienced, unsteady and unpredictable. Slow down and allow at least three feet of passing distance between your vehicle and the bicycle. If your child rides a bicycle to school, require that they wear a properly fitted bicycle helmet on every ride.

Now that school is back in session, all of these suggestions take on an immediate importance. After several months of no-school traffic, it’s vital we pay attention. Some new traffic patterns will be in effect — including the roundabouts that have been built since the last school year — and we aren’t yet acclimated to the presence of school buses.

Alabama law forbids drivers from passing a stopped school or church bus, and drivers must remain stopped until the bus resumes motion.

Put down the phone while traveling, watch for children and buses, and remain alert — now more than ever.