I've been driving lately and seen tons of 'Schools Open, Drive Carefully' signs. This is an annual drive by AAA to remind motorists about watching for children while driving. I fully support this initiative.However, every time I see the sign my initial cranky reaction is 'what happens at Christmas time ... School is closed, drive carelessly'. AAA go on to say:
- Slow down near schools and in residential areas.
Drive with your headlights on - even during the day - so children and other drivers can see you. - Look for clues such as AAA School Safety Patrollers, bicycles and playgrounds that indicate children could be in the area.
- Scan between parked cars and other objects for signs of children.
- Practice extra caution in bad weather.
- Always stop for school buses that are loading or unloading students.
- Ditch distractions - Research shows that taking your eyes off the road for just two seconds doubles your chances of crashing.
- Stay alert - Don't rush into and out of driveways. Expect pedestrians on the sidewalk, especially around schools and in neighborhoods
- Stop at stop signs - It sounds obvious, but research shows that more than one third of drivers roll through stop signs in school zones or neighborhoods.
- Watch for bikes - Children on bicycles are often unpredictable; expect the unexpected.
Shouldn't every driver be doing this all of the time?
