Teachers are back to work, Walmart’s school supplies aisle has been run amuck and speed trailers are out in the various school zones – yep, it’s almost back to school time for students.

Monday, August 15th is the start day for nearly all of USD 475 students, and it’s important to note the school zone speed limits in your area.

Captain Chuck Leithoff, Community Involvement Unit of the Junction City Police Department, said that they have speed reminders up to caution drivers that students will be out commuting to school next week.

“This week we’ve got the speed trailer out at the different school zones, just kind of with a warning up that school starts on Monday; and it will be flashing the 20 just to remind people that school zones will be in session starting next week,” said Leithoff.

Leithoff said that all school zones are 20 mph speed limits but the time in which that speed is enforced varies.

• Elementary school speed zones are in effect from 7:30 am – 8:30 am and 2:45 pm – 3:45 pm
• Middle school from 7:15 am – 8:15 am and 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm
• Saint Xavier Catholic school from 7:45 am – 8:45 am
• Freshman Success Academy from 8:00 am – 9:00 am and 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
• JCHS from 7:45 am- 8:45 am, 11:00 am – 1:30 pm, and 3:15 pm- 4:15 pm

Back to school can be an exciting time for many students and they may not be the most attentive to the roads while commuting to school.

“We just ask for drivers to be careful and we ask parents to remind the kids to be attentive to traffic,” said Leithoff.

Leithoff said that back to school also means more traffic out on the roads.

“Parents take their children to school and plus we’re going to have buses out on the road…so we probably will see more traffic around the schools, especially during those times,” said Leithoff.