It's back-to-school time for most schools in our area. Today, the school year begins in Florence and the rest of the Pee Dee.

Public safety officials are gearing up, reminding drivers to be prepared.

Children will be standing on the side of the road, waiting for the bus. Cars will be lining up in school zones, as parents drop off their kids. And police will be there in force, making sure the routine goes smoothly.

As the new school year begins, it's time again for drivers to watch out and be aware.

"We need everyone to be extra patient, extra careful," said Lance Corp. Sonny Collins of the SC Highway Patrol.

Collins says, allow yourself a few extra minutes for your morning commute next week, to account for buses and added traffic.

Remember that school speed zones that you could safely ignore for the past three months are being enforced again.

And keep in mind those times when you have to stop for a school bus with its red lights activated and when you don't.

Collins says, there's a difference between two-lane and four-lane roads.

"If you're on the opposite side of the road, you're meeting the school bus, on a four lane road, you can continue to drive, you don't have to stop. But remember on a two lane road, you always stop and on a four lane road, if you're behind the bus, you always stop."

The SC Department of Public Safety says, every week during the school year should be viewed as School Zone Safety Week.

But it's especially important during the first week of school, because it takes awhile for drivers to get used to a new routine.

"Next week is a week of just being patient, being careful, because the last thing we want is a child hurt," Collins said.

The troopers say, if you're on the opposite side of a four-lane road and you don't have to stop for a bus, you should still slow down and watch out, because you just never know what a child might do.

Georgetown County students go back to school on Wednesday. Students in Horry County get another week off. They start on August 23rd.