PROACTIVE IDEA FOR SCHOOL BUS PASSERS

Since almost everything of a reactive nature has been tried to keep people from driving through school bus lights, I think it’s time to become proactive and attack the problem at its root. And I think I know what that root is.

It’s my feeling that the reason drivers pass buses with flashing lights is because they see the bus as only an inanimate object that impedes their progress. It’s hard to see the ‘precious cargo’ — the children inside, let alone put a face on them until they exit the bus and then suddenly, they are a living, breathing, walking child and it’s too late. There have been too many incidents, close calls and injuries to date. It’s just a matter of time before a child is seriously injured or killed.

Having said this, I have a proposal for the Public Schools Branch that a campaign be initiated that puts a face on the children travelling to and from school every day, so the travelling public can actually see who is inside that bus and think about the consequences of their actions.

To do this, I propose that close up, full face, colour pictures of young boys and girls be placed in strategic places on the front, back or sides of the buses as a pilot project. These pictures could be mounted on magnetic bases similar to those businesses use on their car and truck doors so they can be moved from place to place. A caption would be placed above or below the picture reading, “I am someone’s daughter/son. I am someone’s granddaughter/grandson.” The wording is optional. The message is the important thing.

More lights, more cameras, more stop arms. What’s next, a force field around the bus the keep vehicles away? It all costs money and we all know how hard that is to come by.

What could a few pictures transferred to flexible magnetic bases cost? Very little I’d say. Try them on a few buses; they are not permanent, do not deface the bus and can be moved from bus to bus on a trial basis by anyone. Bruce MacEwen, Charlottetown