As children head back to class today following summer break, chances are their minds are preoccupied with a plethora of thoughts.
That means students might well be distracted by the excitement — or perhaps in some cases lamentation — of heading back to school to pick up their studies and reconnect with classmates.
So not entirely unlikely is the possibility of some youths eagerly — or on the other side of the coin sullenly — crossing the street without being sure to first look both ways to ensure the way is safe.
The simple fact is even some adults occasionally waltz obliviously in front of oncoming traffic, and kids are no exception.
Although motorists should always be expected to constantly scan the road and sidewalks ahead, that perhaps is arguably the case more so than usual as the start of another school year gets underway.
The speed limit on Centre Street along River Valley School is back to 30 kilometres per hour during regular school hours.
Although there is even throughout the summer a fair amount of foot traffic there as kids make their way to the playground, Snake Hill or to the corner store for a slushie, the return to class represents from Monday to Friday a twice-daily surge of children who sometimes might in their enthusiasm not always be cognizant of oncoming vehicles as they get carried away chasing after some friends.
While children should of course be encouraged to always remember to look both ways before crossing a street, that is no excuse for any driver not to be prepared to stop on a moment’s notice.
Provided a motorist is exercising due diligence and driving cautiously with eyes peeled, he or she should not be caught off guard and be totally prepared to safely apply the brakes in the event a child runs out into the street.
Of course there is always the possibility of a tyke darting out between parked cars. But again, so long as a driver is proceeding slowly as required in a school zone, a serious collision should easily be avoidable.
Meanwhile, motorists who commute from outside of town must also be mindful to stop when a bus is flashing red lights.
“This means you must stop whether you are approaching an oncoming bus or following one. The only exception to this rule is when the bus is on the opposite side of a two-way highway that is physically divided by a median,” reads an online statement by Alberta Transportation.
Saving a couple of seconds is not worth risking the well-being of a child.
So consider leaving for work or to run errands a few minutes earlier — after all, there is no legitimate excuse to rush past a school bus or zone.
— Ducatel is the Round Up’s editor
