Slow down -- school will be returning

The car went whizzing past, not slowing down to notice the children lined up on the sidewalk waiting for the school bus.

It didn't seem to matter it was a residential district -- a neighborhood -- where children congregate each morning waiting for their ride to school and arrive back at the same point in the afternoon after a full day of school.

Most drivers are more careful, slowing down, cautiously eyeing the often darting moves of the children whose excitement with new friends, new experiences and riding the bus often erases caution.

Yet some drivers pay little attention, just like the driver who was in a hurry to be somewhere.

Each year, in cities across our country, similar scenes are played out, day after day.

And most of the time, safety and chance work to keep children safe.

But all too often, accidents occur and lives are forever changed.

A number of schools will start up around the area beginning next week. For some, it's the return to classes, for others, it will begin a variety of orientation meetings and scheduling for either students or faculty, or both. Open houses will take place in various schools in the days leading up to school opening.

Once again, children will be out and about in the mornings and afternoons, walking to and from their schools and their bus stops, or their cars, not thinking about the actions of a few careless drivers.

According to national statistics, September and October rank as the months when traffic accidents involving children are most likely.

Most of you who read this aren't the ones who disregard safety in pursuit of those extra seconds that can become so costly to children and their families.

Unfortunately, those who speed past the small steps of children pay little attention to warnings, either written or otherwise.

Yet we can all do our part to make sure our children have a safe journey to and from school.

Remember to slow down yourself during these peak times of children arriving and departing and during the school day. Exercise extra caution in school zones.

We can keep a watchful eye while standing with our children waiting for the bus or walking with them to school or to the bus stop. We can heed the warnings of the traffic guards and help them do their job. We can also monitor the traffic and report concerns to our police departments, sheriff's offices, and school systems.

We can also make sure that others pay attention and obey the traffic laws.

It takes all of us to ensure our children's safety. Everyone needs to do their part.