School’s open – slow down or pay the price

  • Published
  • By Lt. Col. Warren G. Ward
  • 321st Training Squadron commander,
LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFPN) --  It is mid August in South Texas. It is hot enough to cook an egg on the pavement and it is time for children to head back to the classroom.

Yes, it is back to school time! Children have had a great summer break and parents may very well be ready to send the youngsters back to class at this point, but there are some important things all motorists need to remember at this time of year to prevent needless tragedy.

All motorists have adjusted over the summer to the absence of school buses on the road. Now is the time for increased awareness.

Be conscious of school buses carrying precious human cargo. When you see a bus with yellow flashing lights, slow down and prepare to stop. When those lights are flashing red, all other vehicular traffic must stop for the safety of the children loading and unloading from the bus.

Please do not try to drive around a stopped bus with the red lights flashing; you never know when a child might suddenly appear from around the corner of the bus, placing your vehicle on path for a deadly encounter.

School zones as well are active once again. Re-familiarize yourself with your daily driving patterns. If you have transited an inactive school zone during the summer months, you can expect greatly reduced speed limits during certain times of the day when school is in session.

Slow down! Drivers need time to react to the unexpected in a school zone. Watch carefully at crosswalks which may utilize crossing guards. Obey the crossing guards’ orders to stop or proceed; they are monitoring the safe transit of children in their charge.

In neighborhoods near schools, you may see an increase in bicycle and foot traffic of children who live close enough to transit to school by these methods. Always be alert and expect the unexpected. You never know when that bicyclist might decide to weave back and forth on the road or jump from road to sidewalk and back.

Be ready! Just because we all grew up learning to walk facing traffic does not mean that this safety tactic is practiced. Watch for those walking along the sides of the road.

These are but a few simple reminders for all motorists as school starts up.

Local law enforcement officials will likely have no tolerance for motorists racing around loading/unloading school buses or speeding through school zones. If you are caught in this type of infraction, both your pocketbook and driving record will suffer.

How much will it cost you? It depends on where you live. Here in San Antonio if you speed 1-10 miles per hour over the limit in a school zone, plan to pay $190 plus $5 for each additional mile over the limit. If you pass a stopped school bus, that will cost you $630.

However, the most important thing you risk by hazardous driving in these school-related areas is the injury or death of a child.

Best wishes to all students and parents for this 2005-06 school year. I challenge all motorists to drive responsibly to keep school children safe!