Schools Open, Drive Carefully

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?