With schools opening next week, it is a good time to consider what more we can do to keep our children safe. Back-to-school season means increased automobile and pedestrian traffic. According to AAA, nearly one-fifth of all traffic fatalities are child pedestrians under the age of 15, and more school-aged pedestrians are killed between the hours of 3 and 4 p.m. – once school ends – than any other time of the day.
With these frightening statistics in mind, we implore drivers to slow down and remain alert behind the wheel. That means keeping speeds low in areas where children are most likely to be present, such as schools, playgrounds, and recreation areas. It also means driving distraction-free. Glancing away from the road for even just two seconds doubles the chance of being involved in a crash.
In addition, it’s important to scan between parked cars. Children can quickly dart out from between parked vehicles, forgetting to look for oncoming traffic. Such an accident occurred in town just a few years ago; luckily, the child involved did not suffer serious injuries.
Once school starts again, parents need to learn – and obey – the traffic patterns for dropping off their children at their particular schools. These patterns have been developed by the officials to maximize safety.
It’s up to all of us to make sure that our community is a safe place for our children. We need to slow down. We need to be careful and to follow the rules. By taking a few precautions, we can help to avoid a tragedy.
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