Traffic tips for August Published Aug. 18, 2008 Colorado Springs Police Department COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- All school districts in Colorado Springs start their fall semesters this month. It's time to watch out for kids crossing streets in the crosswalks and school busses stopping to pickup or drop off our city's children. Speed: School zones are posted at 20 mph. Some school zones are marked with flashing yellow lights to assist drivers in slowing down in those areas. Other school zones are marked with the school zone speed limit and the times the speed limit is in effect. Speeding violations in a school zone are double fines, $20 per each mile an hour over the limit and a mandatory court appearance. Did you know that you can't drive through a crosswalk when pedestrians are in the crosswalk and the crosswalk guard indicates prohibition? You have to wait until the crossing guard gets back on the sidewalk before you can proceed. Driving through Safety Zone prohibited A. No vehicle shall at any time be driven through or within a pedestrian safety zone. B. No vehicle shall at any time be driven through or within a school crosswalk when a school crosswalk guard indicates prohibition. Fine: $80 and three points against your driver's license Drivers must stop for school buses with red flashing lights. The driver of a vehicle on any street or highway, upon meeting or overtaking from either direction any school bus which is stopped, shall stop the vehicle before reaching the bus warning lights are flashing, and the driver shall not proceed until the lights are no longer flashing. Also, the driver of a vehicle on a highway with separate roadways does not stop upon meeting or passing a school bus which is on a different roadway. A highway with separate roadways means a highway that is divided into two or more roadways by a depressed, raised or painted median or other intervening space serving as a clearly indicated dividing section or island. Fine: Mandatory court and six points against your driver's license. Be careful in the school zones so we can keep our kids safe.