By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
Fort Hays State University and NCK Technical College begin their fall semesters Monday; the other many schools in Hays started classes last week.
With those changes comes an increase in local traffic and the Hays Police Department (HPD) is urging drivers to be cautious.
The most important thing you can do, according to Lt. Brandon Wright, is to just slow down and give yourself extra time.
"People are going to be going to new places and figuring out their routes, and figure out their timelines every morning.
"Traffic is going to be more congested than it's been all summer as we get back into the groove what the school year is like," Wright said.
Drivers should be extra vigilant around schools, he added.
"Kids are unpredictable. They're not always watching and they can be bouncing around and popping out from behind cars."
Wright said police officers will prioritize watching and enforcing school zones, where speeding ticket fines are automatically doubled.
He also reminds drivers they must stop in both directions when coming up to a stopped school bus with its red lights flashing. A stop sign is also ususally extended from the bus.
"You must stay stopped until the red lights are off and the bus resumes motion."
Fines for "school bus drive bys" are even more expensive.
The first offense will cost violators $315 plus court costs and increase substantially with subsequent violations.
"We've all seen those internet clips of horrible accidents that happen as a kid comes running around a school bus and is blind to the traffic until they pop out. So be careful around the buses."
Drivers also need to watch out for kids coming out of alleys and from between parked cars.
Don't double park, stop in the middle of the street or to be in a no parking zone when dropping off or picking up children at schools. "It contributes to blocking vision and is more dangerous for your children."
To avoid the congested areas, Wright suggests dropping off children in a familiar neighborhood close to their school and having them use the school crosswalks to cross a busy street.
Youngsters walking to school or riding their bikes or scooters should be use the same route each day and have a plan for notifying an adult where they'll be after school.
"You should talk to them about traffic safety and tell them especially to watch alleys and driveway accesses.
"Kids often, especially on bikes, go flying down sidewalks and you just never know when a car is going to pull out of a driveway. You should also be thinking about that as a driver."
According to Wright, bicycles and scooters may be ridden on sidewalks in Hays, except in the downtown business area. Riders should wear a helmet.
Wright also encouraged drivers to stay off their phones when around school zones and school buses.