State Police Urging Caution in Somers and Ellington Next Week as Students Return to School

TOLLAND, — State Troopers are urging Somers and Ellington drivers, parents and children to be ready for children returning the school next week.

Most schools in the area are back Wednesday and Thursday.

"As over a half­-a-­million Connecticut children head back to school over the next few weeks, Connecticut State Troopers urge all parents and guardians to discuss school, traffic, and personal safety with their children," state police said in a news release issued Friday.

Troopers are cautioning all drivers to be aware of “back to school” bus, pedestrian, and bicycle traffic.

"Drivers are urged to use extra caution as they travel on Connecticut’s roadways, and to be alert to children
who may be hurrying to and from school," state police said.

Under state law, it is mandatory that drivers stop for school buses that have their flashing red warning
lights activated, whether they are approaching or following the school bus, state police said.

The yellow flashing lights are a warning to drivers that the bus will be stopping to pick up and/or drop off
students, state police said.

Drivers should anticipate that the red flashing lights will come on shortly after seeing the yellow flashing lights as the bus comes to a stop, state police said.

The red flashing lights on a school bus indicate that the bus is stopped and students are either getting on off the bus, state police said.

"Failure to obey this law not only puts our children at great risk, but it carries a hefty penalty for drivers," state police said.

Fines for passing a school bus that has its flashing red warning lights activated starts at $465 for a first
offense.

"Parents should remind their children to wait in a safe place, out of the travel portion of the roadway
and only cross the street after looking both ways, even if the red lights are activated," state police said. "Urge children to tell an adult and the police about anything that makes them feel unsafe or uncomfortable on the way to/from school and while they’re in school. Children should be reminded not to speak to, or get into vehicles of people they don’t know."

All resident state troopers and troopers on patrol will periodically monitor school bus stops to help
ensure the safety of all students as they travel back to school to begin the 2016­-17 school year, state police said.

Photo Credit: CSP