This weekend, parents and students will be enjoying their last few hours of summer before school begins anew on Aug. 20.

They’ll pack up new school supplies, pick out perfect first-day outfits and get a few more hours of freedom in before waking up bright and early Monday morning.

Some of those students will travel to school in their parents’ vehicles, while others will hop onto school buses.

Parents, if your children will ride on school buses, please go over the rules of school bus safety with them.

Some of those rules include:

-When the bus approaches, stand at least 10 feet away from the curb.

-Wait until the bus stops and the driver says it’s OK before stepping onto the bus.

-Be sure the driver can see you and you can see the bus driver.

-Use the handrails when stepping onto the bus to avoid falls.

-Never walk behind the bus.

-Walk at least 10 feet away from the side of the bus.

-If you drop something near the bus, tell the bus driver. Never try to pick it up because the driver may not be able to see you.

-When exiting the bus, be careful that clothing with drawstrings and book bags with straps don’t get caught on the handrails or on the doors.

Of course, while bus passengers have to be careful, other motorists must also be extra cautious.

All of Shelby County’s motorists, especially those who travel to work early in the morning and come home in mid-afternoon, need to be aware that school buses will be out on the road in full force starting Monday morning.

Accidents involving school buses are some of the most frightening because of the sheer number of people involved. Please recall that school buses are carrying our most precious cargo — our children — and drive with extra caution when approaching a school bus or a bus stop.

The We Say is the opinion of the Shelby County Reporter editorial board.