Tampa Bay Schools Are Back, Let's Remember The Rules Of The Road

PASADENA, CA – OCTOBER 10: School buses drive down teh road to pick up children before classes begin on October 10, 2008 in Pasadena, California. California State Treasurer Bill Lockyer…

Photo by David McNew/Getty Images

Tampa Bay schools are back in session starting this Wednesday. Make sure you know the rules of the road when you drive through school zones or see school buses.

It's the unofficial end of summer here in Tampa Bay: Schools start up again this Wednesday August 10th. Yup, the roads are going to be a bit more congested but we just need to take a breath and take our time driving. Here is a refresher on the rules of the road when it comes to school zones and school buses:

-It's illegal to use a hand-held cellphone in a school zone. Your phone MUST be hands-free. That also applies to texting and driving.

-Make sure you follow the lowered speed limits in school zones.

-Be alert for children walking near school zones and children on bicycles.

-Watch the school crossing guards for signals and obey them.

-As a motorist, you need to STOP when approaching a stopped school bus that has its red lights flashing and stop arms extended.

Here's a great graphic that the Largo Police Department put on social media to remind you of what to do when you see a stopped school bus:

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If your children are walking to school, parents should teach them to look both ways before crossing the street and follow instructions from crossing guards.

A little bit of patience and not being distracted can go a long way. Let's make the new school year a safe one on the roads of Tampa Bay!

Check out more school traffic safety tips here. [SOURCE ABC Action News]

Tampa Bay’s 10 Most Famous High School Grads

Don't know if they were voted Most Likely To Succeed in the yearbook, but these Tampa area high school grads all made their mark. From actors to pro wrestlers (although that could be considered one and the same), reporters to rappers, the list of celebrities who wore the cap and gown at their high school graduation here in Tampa Bay is pretty diverse.

Channing Tatum

(Photo by Stuart Wilson/Getty Images)

Word is his parents gave him a choice. Private or military school. Tatum chose Tampa Catholic and graduated in 1998. It's not known in which class he learned those moves from Magic Mike.

Joanna Garcia

(Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images)

You may recognize her from the TV show "Reba" and the Netflix hit "Sweet Magnolias". Joanna Garcia graduated from Tampa Catholic High School in 1997.

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - JULY 15: Joanna Garcia attends the Cedars-Sinai and Sports Spectacular's 34th Annual Gala at The Compound on July 15, 2019 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images)

Kevin Cash

Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

The Tampa Bay Rays manager grew up in Lutz and graduated from Tampa's Gaither High School in 1996. But he says most of his time was spent at Northside Little League Park on Lakeview Drive.

Sara Blakely

(Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for Fast Company)

One of the sharks from Shark Tank, this 1989 Clearwater High grad must have received a pretty solid business education. The Spanx founder was named one of the most powerful women in the world by Forbes in 2014.

Angela Bassett

(Photo by Chris Pizzello-Pool/Getty Images)

The actress who played Tina Turner gradauted from Boca Ciega High School in Gulfport back in 1976.

Stephen Stills

(Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images for NARAS)

The Buffalo Springfield and Crosby, Still, Nash and Young singer and songwriter actually was born in Dallas. He attended Admiral Farragunt Academy in St. Pete and played in th emarching band at Plant High School in Tampa.

Hulk Hogan

(Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

The former WWF champ was part of the Class of 1971 at Robinson High School. These days, Hulk is putting those math skills he learned at Robinson by counting money from that lawsuit and selling memorabilia at his shop on Clearwater Beach.

Erin Andrews

(Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)

You watched her dad for years on Tampa TV news broadcasts. Erin followed the TV career path too after graduating from Bloomingdale High in Valrico in 1996.