As a new school year approaches, experts say the No. 1 one issue for children is pedestrian safety.

Children will be getting on and off buses, will be in and around cars and will be walking and riding bikes to and from school, so being safe is a priority for students and drivers.

Dwayne Smith, injury prevention specialist with AnMed Health System, said pedestrian safety is not just for students but for motorists as well.

“Drivers need to be cognizant of the reduced speeds in school zones,” Smith said. “And they need to remember there are laws that ensure pedestrians have the right of way.”

In addition, he said, drivers need to be mindful of laws involving school buses.

According to South Carolina state law, all cars behind a bus must stop to allow students to safely exit the bus.

“You do need to stop for the bus, no matter how late you’re running,” Smith said. “And this becomes especially important when there are families who have special needs in your neighborhood. … People need to respect that child’s right to a safe environment. I’ve seen people get frustrated by how long their loading onto the bus was taking and pass on the left. That’s not only illegal, but unsafe.”

Children also need to be at least 10 feet in front of a school bus when crossing in front of the vehicle, he said.

The American Academy of Pediatricians also recommends that children wait until an approaching bus has stopped before moving toward it.

While there are few schools where students walk to school, Smith recommended that parents teach their children good pedestrian safety, such as crossing only with the light.

“Children should also make sure drivers see them before they cross in front of them,” he said. “There’s the issue now of drivers being distracted by cell phones and text messages. Children need to be sure a drive is aware they are there before they step off the curb.”

The American Academy of Pediatricians recommends children, whether they are biking or walking to school, wear brightly colored clothing to be easily seen by drivers.

Parents driving their children to school also need to be cautious, Smith said.

“We recommend that for any parent in an SUV, or truck or minivan, because they are so high, that they know where their children are,” Smith said. “We encourage parents to walk a loop around their car while everyone is (in the car) to make sure there are no children or obstacles in the way. Supervision is the key. Pay attention to them when they’re on the playground or whereever. Roll down your windows so you can hear what is going on. And wait to turn on your radio or make that cell phone call until you have left the area.”

Additionally, he recommended that parents ensure their children are in the appropriate booster seats when riding in vehicles.

“We want to remind folks that booster seats are required by the law… and the law only requires booster seats up to age 6, and suggests them for kids up to 80 pounds and 4-feet-9-inches tall,” he said. “Thirty to 35 percent of kids who should be in booster seats are actually in them.”

And the issues that start the school year, he said, shouldn’t fade from notice as the year wears on, he said. Safety is something parents should be concerned about yearround.

In the event of an accident or an emergency, the American Red Cross recommends that all family members have emergency contact cards on them for identification purposes, and to alert medical professionals of any medical needs.

Visit www.redcross.org/prepare/ECCard.pdf to download the emergency contact cards.