Yes, it’s that time again. Time for pencils, books and the looks.

Looking both ways before crossing the street, that is.

Going back to school isn’t just about remembering to do your homework, it’s also about remembering what will keep children safe while going to and from school.

The Oregon Department of Transportation is reminding students, parents and drivers to be aware while on or near roads since school is under way.

The first week or so of school could be the most critical for drivers to watch for students coming and going around schools. Kids are excited about their new classes and less likely to pay attention when they are walking or riding, ODOT Region 3 Transportation Safety Coordinator Rosalee Senger said.

“That first week is so dynamic,” she said.

Though slowing down in a school zone may feel like an inconvenience to drivers, paying attention to speed is crucial, Senger said.

A car traveling at 20 miles per hour needs 64 feet to stop. At 30 miles per hour, a car needs 112 feet to stop.

“The difference between 20 miles per hour and 30 miles per hour can be life or death,” Senger said.

Drivers should keep in mind that slowing down to 20 miles per hour through a school zone will make an infinitesimal difference in commute time. On average, the delay will only be about 3 to 5 seconds.

Higher gas prices may make walking or riding a bike to school a more feasible option than driving for many families. That means drivers need to be on the look out for more commuting kids this year, especially at crosswalks.

“All intersections are crosswalks, whether they have paint or not,” Senger said.

At all crosswalks, drivers need to stop and wait for pedestrians to walk clear out of the roadway before moving again.

Drivers aren’t the only ones who need to pay attention. Students on foot or riding bikes or skateboards should watch for cars in driveways, intersections and while walking on streets without sidewalks. Those on bikes, skateboards or roller blades need to walk, not ride, through crosswalks.

When choosing a route to school, parents and students should consider safety before speed, Senger said. Find a route with the fewest intersections and streets with sidewalks.

For children who ride to school, just wearing a helmet isn’t enough to protect children. It needs to fit properly and be buckled to protect a child in an accident.

“Strap it closed,” Senger said. “If it is not, the second of impact, it will fly off and it’s like not wearing one.”

Later in the school year, the days will shorten and kids may be going to school the dark. Senger said parents should consider putting retroreflective material on their children’s clothing, backpacks or bikes. It can reflect the beam of headlights from as far away as 500 feet.

Some high school-age children may have the option of driving to school. They have even more rules to abide by than older drivers. Teenage drivers should reduce the amount of distractions in the car while driving, whether that be from passengers, cell phones or the stereo, Senger said.

It is illegal for a driver younger than 18 to use a mobile communication device while behind the wheel. Also, in the first six months after getting a driver’s license, drivers under 18 can’t drive with another passenger under the age of 20, unless the passenger is a member of their family. In the second six months, the limitation is eased to no more than three passengers under 20.

The reason?

Only experience behind the wheel reduces the risk of distractions causing an accident, Senger said.

“A 16-year-old has so many new things to pay attention to,” she said. “Just drive and really get good at it.”