AAA reminds drivers to be cautious of pedestrians as school year nears

ST. LOUIS - Transportation changes with Saint Louis Public Schools could cause confusion for drivers as students head back to school soon. 

"So as we get closer to the back-to-school time, it is important that drivers make sure they're slowing down, putting their cell phones down and paying attention in school zones," Nick Chabarria from AAA said.

Chabarria reminds everyone that it could take awhile to adjust to new traffic patterns.

"We may see students congregating in different areas waiting for buses than they previously have. Walking in different areas, maybe walking more to school, riding more to school and just a reminder for drivers out there," he said.

Mixing distracted drivers and distracted walkers is a recipe for disaster. According to AAA, one-third of child pedestrian fatalities occur between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.

"We need drivers to be really attentive when they're out on the roads. We're going to have more pedestrians and more bicyclists out and about, especially in those early morning and late afternoon hours, than they have seen in the last few months," Chabarria noted.

AAA is also warning ...