Think safety: school in session

Published Sept. 18, 2009
By Steve Serrette
72nd Air Base Wing Safety Office

TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- The days are a little cooler now, and there's a crisp feeling to the air which is filled with the sounds of children groaning. It can only mean one thing: school is back in session. And, after a summer filled with easy driving with seemingly little traffic, the transition to crowded roadways teeming with people can be a difficult one.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, between 1996 and 2006 (the most recent years for which statistics were available), 159 children were killed in school transportation-related mishaps. In those mishaps, 73 percent of the children were killed by school buses, or vehicles acting as school buses, while 28 percent were killed by other vehicles. Half of the children killed were between the ages of 5 and 7. The NHTSA also noted that nearly half of all school-transportation related accidents happened between 7-8 a.m. or 3-4 p.m.

Attention is often lacking, transportation experts say around school zones, school buses and child care centers.

Child safety should be the first and foremost consideration when determining how a child is dropped off and picked up from school or day care. Yet the very parent who is most tedious about exercising safety precautions around their own child is often the first to zoom off from the curb after making the safe drop-off, and potentially endangering other children in their haste to leave.

Most of us have to drive in Oklahoma City and its suburbs, so it would behoove us to remember these two numbers: 25 and 202. If you abide by the one -- 25 mph or less -- you won't have to pay the other -- $202 for speeding in a school zone. A ticket in a school zone also means a mandatory visit to court. Court costs and fees are also levied, and the penalty can include jail time of five to 30 days. It also affects the driver's insurance rates.

These back to school safe driving tips will help ensure that everyone remains trouble-free from the Law and safe this school year.

· Observe school zone speeds: Although you should be obeying posted speed limits all the time, it is especially important during the school year. Children are continually crossing roads on their way to and from school and often aren't paying attention, so going slowly and being vigilant is extremely crucial to keeping children safe.

· Obey the crossing guard: The crossing guard is there to keep children safe. So, if you come to a set of traffic lights, and the light turns green in your favor, but the crossing guard still motions to stop, his/her direction takes precedence. There might be a child still crossing the street that you can't see. Whatever the reason, they are trying to keep children from harm, so it's important to do what they say or motion.

· Exercise caution around school buses: The school bus is a great way for children to get to and from school, however, because of the large amount of children entering and exiting the bus at various stops, it's imperative that extra caution is used when driving around a school bus. Obviously, you shouldn't pass a school bus when the signal lights are flashing (as children are often crossing the road at that time), additionally, you should always watch your speed around school buses as a generally precautionary measure.

· Watch for darting children: Children are small, excitable creatures and unfortunately for drivers, this can create dangerous situations on the roads. It's important to be continually vigilant and alert behind the wheel this back to school season. You never know when a small child might dart out from between two parked cars and your fast reflexes are what's needed to prevent an accident.

· Think sensibly: Leave a little early so you are not rushed as you travel to work or school. If you are rushing for time, please take other routes if you can.

· Refrain from using your cell phone, palm, or any other distraction while around school zones: This common-sense advice really applies whenever a motorist is behind the wheel, but especially when in a driving situation around school zones, young children and their perhaps spontaneous actions.

· Patience: Be patient when you encounter heavy traffic at school zones during school peak hours.

Remember that across the nation more than 230 million children begin and end the day on a school bus, so with buses and children crowding the streets again, as a driver the most important thing you can do to protect children in school zones is to slow down and help save lives. Save yourself a lifetime of mental anguish, and legal action by always remembering the unpredictability of children and being on the lookout for all pedestrians, especially in school zones. The safety and well-being of our children depends on the reasonable and prudent driving habits of everyone in school zones. Please be careful to obey all traffic laws in these areas.