Greenville County Schools 2023-24 school year starts Tuesday

TRAVELERS REST — Greenville County Schools' students head to school on Tues., August 8, starting the 2023-24 school year.

If you're driving behind a bus, allow a greater following distance than if you were driving behind a car. It will give you more time to stop once the yellow lights start flashing. It is illegal in all 50 states to pass a school bus that is stopped to load or unload children. The National Safety Council reminds us to:

• Never pass a bus from behind – or from either direction if you're on an undivided road – if it is stopped to load or unload children;
• If the yellow or red lights are flashing and the stop arm is extended, traffic must stop;
• The area 10 feet around a school bus is the most dangerous for children; stop far enough back to allow them space to safely enter and exit the bus; and,
• Be alert; children often are unpredictable, and they tend to ignore hazards and take risks.

"Remember to pay special attention to school zones and bus stops during your daily travels," a Greenville County Sheriff's Office spokesperson said. "Our traffic division will patrol these areas to ensure our kids get to and from school safely."

"We ask the community to help us by maintaining a safe speed and being mindful of school buses slowing down (flashing yellow lights ) and stopping (flashing red lights). Please allow yourselves extra time when traveling in the mornings during drop-off and in the afternoons when the kids get out of school."