As many students in Minot and area communities head back to classes, keeping children safe is a top priority.

School bus, pedestrian and child safety should always be top of mind.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration offers tips for students, parents and drivers, and we are providing a few of those tips here.

Many students rely on school buses to get them to and from school.

If you are a driver, remember:

– Yellow flashing lights indicate the bus is preparing to stop to load or unload children. Be sure to slow down and prepare to stop your vehicle.

– Red flashing lights and extended stop arms indicate the bus has stopped and children are getting off. You must stop your car and wait until the red lights stop flashing, the extended stop-arm is withdrawn and the bus begins moving before you can start driving again.

– Even when lights aren’t flashing, watch for children, particularly in the morning or mid-afternoon, around school arrival and dismissal times. Be alert when you back out of a driveway or drive through a neighborhood, school zone or bus stop.

If you are a parent, talk to your children about safety when they are waiting for the bus or getting off as well as when they are in the bus.

At some point in the day your child will be a pedestrian. Remind them to:

– Use the sidewalk whenever possible and if there isn’t a sidewalk, walk on the edge of the street facing the traffic.

– Use marked crosswalks if available to cross the street and look left-right-left for vehicles or bikes before crossing.

– Make sure you never play, push or shove others when walking around traffic.

– Everyone should watch the road, not their phones.

For those who are driving, especially in a neighborhood, look out for pedestrians at all times.

All of these measures will help make a safe school year for children, parents and drivers.