BEGINNING: When do schools start? Even without kids in school, it’s important to know when those big yellow school buses will be on the roads.

We looked up the first days of classes for students in the area.

It’s Aug. 18 for Port Allegany Area School District; and Aug. 20 for Kane Area School District.

It’s Aug. 21 for Smethport. And it’s Aug. 27 for Bradford and Otto-Eldred.

In Elk County, Johnsonburg starts Aug. 20, St. Marys starts on Aug. 21, while Ridgway starts Aug. 22.

For Potter County, Coudersport and Austin have Aug. 20, while Northern Potter and Oswayo Valley have Aug. 21. Galeton Area School District has Aug. 27.

Remember to adjust your schedule accordingly. Leave yourself enough time to incorporate a school bus into your trip to work.

Remember, in Pennsylvania, drivers must stop at least 10 feet away from school buses that have their red lights flashing and stop arm activated. Motorists must stop when they are behind a bus, meeting the bus, or approaching an intersection where a bus is stopped.

Motorists following or traveling alongside a school bus must also stop until the red lights have stopped flashing, the stop arm is withdrawn, and all children have reached safety.

If physical barriers such as grassy medians, guide rails or concrete median barriers separate oncoming traffic from the bus, motorists in the opposing lanes may proceed without stopping.

Do not proceed until all the children have reached a place of safety.

Don’t pass a stopped school bus. Not only does it risk children’s lives, is it illegal with some steep penalties.

School buses are bright yellow, stand 9.5 to 11 feet high and have 11 flashing lights, and a stop arm.

You can’t miss them.