Kids are sharpening their pencils, zipping notebooks and folders into their backpacks, and lining up at the bus stop. We all know what that means: It's back-to-school time in Minnesota.

As classes start up again for the fall, our Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) is urging you to take extra care, watching out for students and school buses who are sharing Minnesota's roads. The best way for you to keep everyone safe is putting all distractions away and focusing on driving. Slow down and expect to see children and school buses, especially in neighborhoods and school zones.

“As drivers, we need to stay patient, pay attention and not allow our hurried lives to jeopardize a child's safety," said OTS Director Mike Hanson. “If we can change our behavior and work together, we can protect everyone's littlest loved ones."

In Minnesota, school buses make at least 10,000 school bus trips daily. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, school buses are the safest mode of transportation for children — they are eight times safer riding in a bus to school than taking any other vehicles.

However, we all need to work together to keep them safe as they're getting on and off the bus. If you're driving near a bus, be on the lookout for kids. Always stop for school buses when the bus driver activates the red flashing lights and has the stop arm fully extended: It's the law. Drivers who violate that law can face a $500 fine or even criminal charges for passing a school bus on the right, passing when a child is outside the bus, or if a child is injured or killed.

Since 2022, OTS has been helping hold drivers accountable and keep students safe through our stop arm camera grant program. We announced nearly $14.2 million in state-funded grant awards in phases 1 through 6 during 2022 and 2023, and just under $1.5 million in Phase 7 earlier this year. That funding equipped thousands of buses statewide with camera systems to catch drivers who violate the law and help change driver behavior.

Parents, you can do your part to keep your students safe. Tell your kids:

• When waiting for the bus, be patient, stand back from the road and no running or rowdy behavior.
• When on the bus, stay seated, listen to the driver and use quiet voices.
• When getting off a bus, look to be sure no cars are passing on the shoulder.
• Wait for the bus driver to signal that it's safe to cross.
• When crossing the street to get on the bus or to go home, make eye contact with drivers before stepping into the road.