Slow down, obey the law as school kids return to class

Today there are only three sleeps left for kids before they head back to start another school year on Tuesday.

Three more sleeps for drivers, too, to be even more aware, more vigilant in watching out for children.

This week especially, the littlest ones will be excited to see their friends again and get back to school. They might get distracted on the way there — for heaven’s sake, drivers, be on the lookout.

Niagara Regional Police will again put their All Hands on Deck plan in motion, increasing traffic enforcement, especially in school zones, watching for distracted drivers and keeping an eye on seatbelt use.

They don’t do it just because they know that kids are kids and aren’t always as mindful of the traffic around them as we wish they would be.

Police also step up their efforts this week because they know that no matter how loud the warnings, how obvious the concern, some drivers will continue to speed through school zones or absent-mindedly cruise past school buses that are stopped to pick up students.

Nothing makes a parent, or a school bus driver, angrier than seeing the safety of one of their children ignored by another self-consumed adult in a vehicle.

This week, too, for the first time some Niagara school buses will start the year equipped with onboard video cameras.

The exterior ones are to watch out for other drivers who blow past the buses when they’ve stopped to pick up someone.

Despite the flashing overhead lights, the extended stop arm and, often, other vehicles already stopped, some drivers still blissfully fly through.

They endanger the lives of children trying to cross the road and parents who might be waiting for them at the curb.

Some might ask, can’t the bus driver just write down the licence plate number?

First, that isn’t the point. Is a licence plate number fair trade for an injured child?

Also, the bus driver’s responsibility is to keep young passengers safe. There are too many kids to watch, inside and outside the bus, for them to be expected to jot down a licence number, too.

“We rely on motorists to remember there are little ones walking back and forth to school and crossing roads to get to bus stops,” said Lori Ziraldo of Niagara Student Transportation Services this week, announcing installation of the video cameras.

She’s absolutely right. Kids should be educated on traffic safety, but it takes only one reckless driver to ruin the best-laid plans.

That means parents also have to take an active part. Remind your children about road safety and to be on the lookout for bad drivers. The older ones probably already know, but a reminder never hurts.

No surprise, the younger ones need a little more instruction, especially if the parent is unable to be with them on those first days.

None of this is rocket science and it’s kind of sad that adults need to be told, again, to be extra aware during the school year, especially in the first week or two.

Hopefully, police find no instances of people driving badly in school zones. And with any luck, footage from the bus video cameras won’t be needed because drivers will follow the laws of the road.

We can only hope. Drive safely.

Remind your children about road safety and to be on the lookout for bad drivers. The older ones probably already know, but a reminder never hurts.