Editorial — It’s that time of year to be extra careful while driving or walking

September 5, 2014 · 0 Comments

We say it every year at this time, and the message still seems so worthwhile.
Kids are back in school as of this week, so everyone has to be extra careful, and that goes for motorists, pedestrians, cyclists and anyone else who uses the road.
Granted, the summer we have just finished was not the nicest one of recent memory, at least in terms of weather. But it was a down time for many, including the kids, and now we are all back into the routine.
That can add up to dangerous situations. Youngsters walking to or from school may not remember all of the safety rules — being kids, they might be inclined to forget. And the adults among us might not appreciate the need to be extra careful to compensate for the lack of attention on the part of youngsters. They are likely either excited about the start of school and seeing old friends, down in the proverbial dumps about the end of summer vacation, or both.
That’s why there’s more of an obligation on motorists.
Granted, a lot of students in Caledon take the bus to school. No one needs a reminder that there are special rules when it comes to driving around school buses; not to mention the heavy penalties for those who violate them. But many of us have seen, somehow wondering if our eyes were playing tricks on us, motorists drive right by school buses when they should have stopped.
We don’t think it;’s a case that these people are bad in some way. Like kids, and anyone else, for that matter, they make mistakes.
Accidents can happen, and sometimes with tragic results.
Let us not forget a year ago this week, when a young Toronto girl was struck and killed on her way to school, just one day before what would have been her 15th birthday.
That’s why these annual reminders are necessary.
But there is an onus on the young people too, and it’s up to parents and schools to issue the necessary reminders. These kids have an obligation to look out for their own safety. After all, they do have the most to lose.