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School's back in session
For many, Labor Day weekend marks the end to summer, or at least to summer vacations. Children throughout the Pascack Valley will go back to school this week, ending months of recreation, athletics, lounging about, and, as we were reminded last week by our own teen columnist Caleb Rumley, summer reading.
Pools will close, school sports leagues and bands are reconvening, and clubs will soon hold their first meetings of the new school year.
We ask all drivers throughout the Pascack Valley to drive responsibly, especially when in school zones or wherever children are present. It’s easy for a child to become absent minded. I just recently watched my niece get bowled over on the swings by her brother, despite the fact that she was watching him swing for at least five minutes.
Balls roll out into the street. Conversations can distract children when they’re walking, and some kids even think it’s hysterical to pretend to push their friends into oncoming traffic.
Drive slowly, expect the unexpected. Plan alternate routes whenever possible. Leave the house a few minutes earlier. And parents, try to organize carpools. It will not only save you some gas money, it will help to reduce congestion in and around school zones.
We ran an article last year about how fewer and fewer children were walking to school. In some cases, police are overwhelmed by the volume of automobile traffic coming and going from schools, either dropping off or getting their kids to after school activities. If parents are not comfortable having their children walk, then try carpooling.
Above all, be safe. Shaving off a few seconds by driving 40 miles an hour through a school zone, instead of 15 or 20, isn’t worth it. It doesn’t get you to where you need to go any faster. It only puts others at risk.
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