Wednesday marks the start of as new school year for the Bartholomew Consolidated and Flat Rock-Haw Creek school corporations. Public safety officials are urging you to be prepared and aware of kids and state laws. Major Chris Lane, with the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department, says you need to pay attention to school buses.

Lt. Matt Harris, with the Columbus Police Department, says that it’s important for drivers to pay attention and understand that their morning drive will be different than it’s been over the summer…

Authorities say that the only time that traffic in the opposite direction doesn’t have to stop is when the lanes are separated by a curbed or grassy median.

Both the sheriff’s department and Columbus Police say they will have officers out paying extra attention around school buses and campuses to help insure a safe start to the school year.