Kanawha County officials gathered on Thursday to remind residents about the approaching school year.
"We're going to have a lot of kids going to and from school, and a lot of extra traffic," said Keith Vititoe, executive director of security for Kanawha County Schools.
The new school year starts on Monday for children in Kanawha County, along with the associated risks that come with busy towns.
Vititoe said residents should be mindful of school zones, speed limits and the students that are sure to appear each morning and afternoon.
"We're asking that the public grant us the greatest cooperation, beginning next week, in getting that accomplished - getting all the kids in and out of school safely," he said.
He joined Sheriff Mike Rutherford, along with a handful of other officials, to address reporters at Dunbar Intermediate School.
Rutherford said the message is simple, yet important. He knows first-hand what can happen when someone fails to practice safety each year.
As a young officer, he responded to a crash that took the life of a young student from Andrew Jackson Middle School.
The girl stood at a bus stop on the first day of school. A nearby car passed a garbage truck, then struck and killed her.
"It really struck home with me because my daughter looked a lot like that young lady and was the same age, only went to a different school," Rutherford said.
His agency started Graduate Prom Alive, or GPA, about 12 years ago. Though it was meant to increase safety at graduations and proms, the program expanded about five years ago.
It now encompasses general school safety, Rutherford said. The expansion includes random appearances from sheriff's deputies.
Deputies arrive at county schools without notice or prior scheduling. They sometimes decide whether a school needs new or improved safety measures.
Rutherford said the efforts also combat violent tragedies, such as the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut.
"We do it at random so nobody knows when they're going to be there or where they're going to be, so it was just kind of a deterrent," Rutherford said.
The public also will notice increased patrols when students return to schools, he said.
Simplicity is often the best safety measure, Rutherford said. Simply leaving home early can prevent a costly mistake.
"Five more minutes, 10 minutes earlier, you can be on your way and you don't have to drive like a crazy person to get where you're going," he said.
Reach Giuseppe Sabella at giuseppe.sabella@wvgazettemail.com, 304-348-5189 or follow @Gsabella on Twitter.