School is back in session on Monday, Aug. 18, for students in Santa Rosa and Escambia schools.

Drive carefully, watch for children and allow extra time for your commute. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more school-age pedestrians have been killed between the hours of 7 and 8 a.m. and between 3 and 4 p.m. than any other times of day.

Santa Rosa drivers in particular are advised to use extra care on Chumuckla Highway near S.S. Dixon Intermediate and Sims Middle schools.

The school zone light is currently not operating. The control box was hit by lightning, causing extensive damage to the controls and connecting wiring. It will take two weeks to repair, according to county public information officials.

On your commute, remember to:

• Slow down.
• Allow more time. As a new school year begins allow yourself more time to get where you are going until you can figure out the impact of increased traffic to your drive time.
• Stay alert! Make a mental note of any new bus stops or students walking to and from school so you won’t be surprised if you need to stop.
• Learn the rules. Schools usually have places for parents to drop off and pick up children. If you are driving your child to school, learn where these areas are and follow the procedures. If you need to go into the school, ask where you can park your vehicle so traffic can continue to move smoothly.
• Stop for school buses. When the red lights are flashing, stop. It is against the law to pass a school bus when the lights are on.
• Yield to pedestrians. Remember to yield to children/parents in crosswalks. When a pedestrian is in a crosswalk they have the right-of-way.
• Follow the speed limit. Most schools have reduced speed zones around them. Following the speed limit reduces the chances of you being in a crash and improves the chances for survival if a crash does occur.