The calendar may not say so but summer is all but over.
Boise State University freshman start moving into their dorms on Friday, which means school is just about in for all students in the Treasure Valley.
Remembering to slow down in school zones and watch for those yellow buses stopping to let kids off are obvious reminders this time of year. But here's something you may not have considered, the large amounts of new drivers on the road. A slew of teenagers just got their license.
Distractions for them are more likely to cause a wreck with cell phones and tunes at the top of the list.
"Distractions in the vehicle are a huge obstacle [with new teenage drivers]," says Reed Hollinshead with the Idaho Transportation Department. "And, you start putting other kids in the car with that driver, pretty soon their attention can be off of the road and it needs to stay on the road."
Hollinshead also recommends that parents make sure the vehicle they're in is up to speed on its maintenance schedule.
For youngsters who are walking to school, it's advised to have another talk with them about not darting out into traffic.
You may even want to consider arranging to have them walk with a neighboring classmate or place reflective material on their backpack so they're sure to be seen at all hours of the day.
With a renewed community focus on safety, Reed says drivers and pedestrians should always be aware of their surroundings.
"If a car bumps into us at 35 mph, there's a good chance we would just have a broken bone," Reed concludes. "But, for a little kid that could be the end game."
