Boiling Springs, Pa. - When it's time for kids to head back to school, they're excited to see old friends. Safety at the bus stop may be the last thing on their minds. That's why drivers need to be extra careful at this time of year.

The buses rolled in for the first day of school at Boiling Springs High School in Cumberland County.

"There's nothing like the first day of school," said Boiling Springs High School Principal Joe Mancuso. "When you get to see the kids come back and get ready for their excitement as well."

And because students are thinking about things other than safety, it's up to car drivers to pay extra attention around buses and bus stops.

Most car drivers know that flashing red lights on a school bus means traffic must stop in both directions, so students can cross the roadway. But drivers may not know, the law about ignoring those lights has real teeth.

"You will incur a $250 fine," said State Police Trooper Thomas Pinkerton. "Also a 60-day license suspension and there's five points on your driver's license."

Lots of kids also walk to school, like at Jackson Elementary in York where classes just started. That means car drivers need to be alert near schools if kids forget to look both ways before crossing the street.

The Pennsylvania State Police has more tips about back to school traffic safety on its Web site, www.psp.state.pa.us.

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