After multiple heat-related early dismissals and religious holiday closures, Newtown students are safely settling into something of a daily school routine. But elsewhere across Connecticut, there have already been several reports of injuries as a result of children being hit by cars while crossing streets heading to or from school or exiting school buses.

With more than a half-million Connecticut students returning to school, AAA Northeast is reminding motorists to practice the golden rules of the road: keep your eyes peeled, your mind focused, and reduce your speed. The Red Cross has also released a series of advisories as the new school year commences.

Newtown Police Lieutenant Aaron Bahamonde told The Newtown Bee this week that his department has a zero tolerance policy related to vehicles observed passing school buses accepting or discharging students, as well as for speeding or reckless operation, particularly in local school zones.

He said a number of unmarked police vehicles are being employed to monitor school zones as well as areas where bus drivers and residents have complained of vehicles passing buses with their red caution lights activated.

Connecticut statutes require the operator of any vehicle to stop at least ten feet from the front or rear of a school bus when the bus is displaying flashing red lights, except when directed otherwise by a traffic officer. A fine of $450 is assessed for the first offense.

For each subsequent offense, the penalty is a fine of $500 to $1,000, up to 30 days in jail, or both. The Department of Motor Vehicles also assesses four points against the driver’s license of a motorist for each violation of the law.

In its Annual School’s Open — Drive Carefully campaign, AAA encourages motorists to stay alert in areas where children are present, paying special attention during the morning and afternoon hours when they come to and from school.

“Many times, children get caught up in the excitement of the back-to-school season; they forget to look out for cars; while others have trouble making accurate judgments about traffic speed and distance,” says Fran Mayko, AAA Northeast spokesman.

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of unintentional injury-related deaths among school children between 5 and 18, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), she adds. In fact, nearly one out of every five children 14 years of age and younger who die in a traffic crash is a pedestrian, so it is important for drivers to adhere to speed limits, refrain from cellphone use, and be aware of kids who may dart into streets near school zones, playgrounds, and bus stops.

AAA Safety Campaign

As part of the School’s Open — Drive Carefully campaign, AAA Northeast offers these tips to motorists to keep school children safe:

*Slow down in school and residential areas, and be sure to come to a complete stop in all intersections. Studies show that motorists generally roll through stop signs in residential areas;

*Look for clues, such as AAA School Safety Patrol members, crossing guards, and playgrounds, that indicate children are in the area;

*Scan between parked cars for signs that children could dart into the road;

*Pay attention when driving near schools during the morning and afternoon hours; and

*Always stop for school buses that are loading and unloading students.

The club also offers these tips to schoolchildren:

*Always use a crosswalk if it’s available, and only cross at corners so drivers can see you. Never cross mid-block or between parked cars;

*Look all ways before crossing — left, right, then left again;

*Watch for cars that are turning left or right when you are crossing;

*Make it easy for drivers to see you — dress in light colors; and

*Remove headphones and do not use cellphones or electronic devices when crossing streets.

In addition to these tips from AAA, the American Red Cross has also posted safety tips and special steps for parents of younger kids and those going to school for the first time:

*Make sure the child knows their phone number, address, how to get in touch with their parents at work, how to get in touch with another trusted adult, and how to dial 911;

*Teach children not to talk to strangers or accept rides from someone they do not know.

The Red Cross advises if children ride a bus to school, they should:

*Plan to get to their bus stop early and stand away from the curb while waiting for the bus to arrive;

*Board the bus only after it has come to a complete stop and the driver or attendant has instructed you to get on;

*Only board your bus, never an alternate one; and

*Always stay in clear view of the bus driver, and never walk behind the bus.

Riding Or Driving?

The Red Cross advises that if children ride in a car to get to school, they should always wear a seat belt. Younger children should use car seats or booster seats until the lap-shoulder belt fits properly (typically for children ages 8-12 and over 4 feet 9 inches), and ride in the back seat until they are at least 13 years old.

If a teenager is going to drive to school, parents should mandate that they use seat belts. Drivers should not use their cell phone to text or make calls and should avoid eating or drinking while driving.

Some students ride their bike to school. They should always wear a helmet and ride on the right in the same direction as the traffic is going.

Parents should walk young children to school, along with children taking new routes or attending new schools, at least until they know how to get there safely. Or parents can arrange for the kids to walk to school with a friend or classmate.

The Red Cross advises parents and caregivers know what the emergency plan is at your child’s school in case a disaster or an unforeseen event occurs.

Develop a family emergency plan so everyone will know who to contact and where to go if something happens while children are at school and parents are at work.

Details are available at redcross.org/prepare.

The Red Cross First Aid App provides instant access to information on handling the most common first aid emergencies, whether it be before, during, or after school. Download the app for free by searching for American Red Cross in your app store or at redcross.org/apps.

Connecticut residents are advised to learn and practice First Aid and CPR/AED skills by taking a course (redcross.org/takeaclass), so you can help save a life.

AAA Northeast offers free pedestrian and bus safety presentations, in additional to other traffic safety topics, to school-aged students in Litchfield, Fairfield, and New Haven County schools. Educators or parents should call AAA Northeast Public Affairs at 203-937-2595, extension 4576 to schedule a presentation.

For more information on Red Cross safety initiatives, visit redcross.org, or follow the agency on Twitter at @RedCross.