The start of a new school year brings a familiar rhythm back to Sullivan County. School buses are once again traveling our roads, children are waiting at bus stops and parents are making the morning commute.

It is a good time for every driver to slow down and pay attention.

The roads we travel every day can look very different once school is in session. A bus that stops along a familiar stretch of road can mean children are getting on or off. And a few seconds of distraction can have consequences that last a lifetime.

Drivers should be especially mindful of school zones and bus stops, obey posted speed limits and remain alert for children who may not always be paying attention to traffic.

Most importantly, drivers must stop when required for a school bus with its red lights flashing. Failing to stop for a school bus with flashing red lights in New York carries a base fine of $250 to $400 and five points on your driver’s license (which increases for each conviction).

As the New York State DMV says, school buses are unlike other vehicles. School buses have bigger blind spots, take longer to stop, and need more room to maneuver than a standard vehicle. Buses should be treated differently than you would treat an average-sized vehicle. It is important for drivers to know how to react to a school bus in operation.

In addition to slowing down and being alert, drivers must come to a complete stop 20 feet away from the bus, which includes stopping no matter which direction you are coming from.

School buses deserve patience. Getting stuck behind a bus making frequent stops may add a few minutes to a commute, but those minutes are a small price to pay for getting children to and from school safely.

The beginning of the school year is a reminder that our roads are shared spaces. We all have somewhere to be, but there is no destination important enough to justify taking unnecessary risks.