With school starting Wednesday in Roanoke Rapids and Halifax County, the Roanoke Rapids Police Department and state Highway Patrol are urging motorists to be cautious.

“We would like to remind drivers that school opens on Wednesday this week,” Roanoke Rapids Police Chief Jeff Hinton said. “We urge drivers to use extra caution due to kids walking to and from school and the increased volume of vehicles around the schools.”

Hinton says to expect delays with a large amount of vehicles in a short amount of time. Officers will be in the areas around schools.

Sergeant Eric Shaberg of the state Highway Patrol said troopers will be talking with school bus drivers and will be conducting enforcement in school zones.

The state Highway Patrol will enforce speed limits within the school zones and look for motorists who pass stopped school busses, Shaberg said.

The enforcement will also include checking for proper child restraint and troopers will be using different devices for speed detection other than radar.

Shaberg said the Highway Patrol will be targeting teen drivers going to and leaving school for speeding, improper driving and cell phone use.