With students at nine school districts around the San Gabriel Valley beginning classes this week, state and local officials are stressing the importance of driving safe, planning ahead and arriving early.

The school year officially started Monday at six school districts: Baldwin Park Unified, Bassett Unified, Bonita Unified, Rowland Unified, Walnut Valley Unified and West Covina Unified.
Glendora Unified and Pomona Unified, which serves parts of Diamond Bar, begin classes today. Hacienda La Puente Unified begin classes Wednesday.

Officer Mike Harris, a California Highway Patrol spokesman, said the possibility of heavier traffic over the next few weeks means motorists need to give themselves “ample time” to get where they’re going and to think about alternative routes to their destinations.

Gina Ward, spokeswoman for Rowland Unified, echoed his statement.
“We’ve always just encouraged ‘the earlier the better’ the first week,” she said. “Motorists also need to slow down and be especially watchful for children when driving near schools.”

“They’ll see a lot more of our school police,” she said. “And they will give tickets. (Drivers) have got to slow down.”

Get some more tips in J.D. Velasco’s story School.