Sunday, Aug. 15, 2010

Please slow down in school zones

PEOPLE!! IT'S A SCHOOL ZONE!! SLOW DOWN!! Have I caught your attention? Good. Please read the rest. Pass it on to all your household's drivers when you've finished.

Many newcomers and visitors to the Triangle remark on its large amount of trees. Just as noticeable, I think, are the drivers zipping through a school zone, completely ignoring the posted speeds that are mandatory morning and afternoon. Even when you don't see the school, where there are school zone signs, slow down! What's with you, Raleigh?

Let's review the difficult-to-miss signs generously placed alongside the road in a school area.

For traditional calendar schools, K-12, school zone signs state "School," along with the posted speed limit you may not exceed during the times listed - right up there for you to see.

Year-round schools mean you slow down year-round. The signs tell you when it's a year-round school. Sometimes a year-round school is right next door to a traditional calendar school. During traditional calendar schools' summer vacation you can ignore the slower speed but once in year-round territory, please obey the law.

Almost five hours a day can be devoted to school zone speeds, as on Wakefield Pines in North Raleigh.

"What a pain," you may think. "I'm late for work" or "an appointment," or "I'm just keeping up with traffic." No excuse is valid because not all students ride a bus to get to and from school. Many walk. That's why you need to be on the lookout for unexpected pedestrian traffic crossing the road.

Students aren't always safety-conscious - they're kids. Their minds are probably on other things. You're the one piloting a lethal weapon. When you zoom through a school zone during arrival and dismissal time, there's always a chance someone's child is about to step in front of your moving vehicle. Would you want that on your conscience for the rest of your life? Don't think that can't happen to you - it can.

Consider this as well: Getting pulled over for speeding through a school zone during the posted times will get you three points on your driver's license. Expect an insurance rate hike.

I'm all for increasing the police presence in school zones. Once, as I approached a school zone and began to slow down, an impatient driver behind me sped past. Wonderful justice was waiting in the form of a police officer who promptly issued a ticket. It made my day. Still makes me grin.

Come on, Raleigh, let's all be road warriors. You see a speeding vehicle with a business phone number listed on its exterior, let the boss know. I've done that, and so should you. I'd want to know if my employee was an unsafe driver when I'm not looking.

Really, let's consider all children our children.