Mitchell Public, Catholic and Mitchell Christian Schools are set to start the new school year this week.
Shawn Steward of Triple-A South Dakota says traffic and pedestrian safety is a top priority. “We’re just reminding all drivers and all road users to be to be mindful of these changes in traffic,” said Steward. “In neighborhoods and especially around those school zones.”
He says there are a lot of different factors in play. “We’ve got inexperienced drivers, maybe kids driving to high school for the first time,” Steward noted. “We’ve got school buses, commuters, parents doing drop-offs, even pedestrians and bicyclists, so all those factors making it pretty dangerous.”
Steward suggests allowing extra time when dropping off and picking up students, especially during the first couple of weeks of the new school year, as both drivers and students are getting used to a new routine following summer recess.