STURGIS, S.D. – School is back in session across the area, and local law enforcement are encouraging motorists to stay alert.
Among the safety issues being advertised this year are reminders to not pass a school bus when it has its red light flashing and its stop sign out.
Butte County law enforcement this week says they have numerous reports from bus drivers and witnesses of drivers not stopping and passing the school bus. That can be very dangerous for students loading or unloading.
In Sturgis, Police Chief Geody Vandewater says their trying to get people back in the habit of driving carefully through school zones.
Vandewater says using phones while driving is also a big safety concern.
Officer Matt Jacobs is the School Resource Officer for Sturgis Elementary and Williams Middle School. He says this time of year, when the weather is still warm, there’s a lot of kids on foot.
School zones around Sturgis are clearly marked, and local law enforcement says those school zones have reduced speed limits when children are present.