With all of the focus on the COVID-19 pandemic, let's not forget about long-time concern when schools go back into fall session: changing traffic patterns for motorists and the potential for students to be struck by vehicles.
School buses soon will be on the roads, along with parents driving their children to school. Inexperienced drivers will be among those taking to the roads. Add increased pedestrian and bicycle traffic near schools, and that's a recipe for potential wrecks - including accidents involving students and motorists.
As we all know, children, especially young children, can be unpredictable and can quickly dart into the road.
The Missouri Highway Patrol reports three people were killed in Missouri in 2019 and 471 were injured in 1,015 traffic crashes involving school buses.
The patrol encourages parents to talk to their children about riding a bus, walking, driving or riding a bike to schools safely.
Parents need to stress to young drivers that driving demands their full attention. Distractions caused by cellphones and other tech gadgets are proven to cause injuries and fatalities on the roads. Texting is illegal for drivers 21 and under.
We would add that motorists need to drive defensively and follow the rules of the road, including reduced speed limits in school zones, which will soon be active.
On two-lane roads, if school buses are stopped and displaying warning signals while loading or unloading children, drivers must stop when meeting and following the bus. Drivers only need to stop on four-lane highways when following the bus.
All of us - drivers, riders, walkers, cyclists, etc. - need to work together as a caring community to ensure we don't endanger ourselves or others on the roads as the school year starts.
News Tribune