COLUMBIA (WACH) -- Summer is officially over for Midlands students.
Several school districts headed back to class Monday with more kicking off throughout the week.
And with all of students and parents headed back to school comes potential dangers on the road.
To help raise awareness, the Department of Public Safety is promoting School Zone Safety Week.
Officials want drivers to watch out for young pedestrians, bicyclists and heavier traffic near schools.
"Motorists need to be aware there's going to be changes on the roadways," Sgt. Kelley Hughes of the South Carolina Highway Patrol explains. "The traffic patterns are going to change. You may need to leave earlier in the morning. Give yourself time to get to work. There's going to be buses out on the road stopping to pick children up."
Officers say if drivers practice patience around schools and behind buses, students will be much safer.
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