Paulding Sheriff Urges Back-To-School Safety

DALLAS, GA — With Paulding County students set to return to class on August 1, the sheriff's office is reminding motorists to remain alert on the roadways.

In a news release, Sheriff Gary Gulledge particularly urged drivers to be careful about their speed in school zones and around school buses.

Paulding County deputies will be patrolling school zones daily and watching for drivers that fail to stop for school buses loading or unloading passengers, Gulledge said.

Georgia law requires drivers in both directions to stop when a school bus is flashing red lights and/or has the stop arm activated, except on controlled-access or divided highways.

He also urged motorists to leave extra room when following a school bus in traffic.

"Driver's who are following school buses too closely are not prepared for the frequent stops made by the school bus," Gulledge said in the release. "Drivers should always use extreme caution when following school buses and obey the posted speed limits in the school zones."

A conviction for unlawfully passing a school bus carries a penalty of six points on your driving record and, if you're under the age of 21, a six-month suspension of your driver's license.