I hope you can indulge me for one more school safety related article before the start of the school year for schools throughout Kewaunee County. Last week, I had touched on issues related to school busses and the laws that apply to keeping them and their passengers safe. Subsequently I had a wonderful conversation with an experienced bus driver who stated he appreciated the article and wanted people to know that as school bus operators they are aware of both vehicles and pedestrians and consider the presence and proximity of both when activating their warning equipment. Please do the same when approaching a school bus. With the new transition to the yellow warning signals before the red stop signals, bus drivers have witnessed the same phenomenon that occurs at a set of stop lights. While the yellow caution light should be just that; a signal for cautious driving, it more often results in vehicles speeding up to beat the red signals. Please do not be that driver.

Continuing on with the subject of back-to-school safety, I would like to focus on those that make their way to and from our institutions of learning on foot. While there are always pedestrians in our communities, the beginning of the school year will definitely bring an increase in that traffic and therefore the need for greater awareness. As in any accident there is usually more than one contributing factor, this is also true in vehicle versus pedestrian accidents.

I would like to focus first on the obligation of those operating a motor vehicle. Please be aware that in the State of Wisconsin those pedestrians in the cross walk have right of way. Cross walks are usually found in the urban settings with lower speed limits so there should be plenty of time to recognize and respect the existence of these crosswalks and those utilizing them. When traveling through both business districts and school districts with vehicles parked along the street, please maintain a higher sense of awareness as pedestrians may not always use the cross walks and step out between vehicles giving you much less of a response time. If you see a pedestrian preparing to cross, do not assume they see you or your vehicle, and maintain a high level of awareness.

For those who are on the pedestrian side of the equation, please be aware of your surroundings as well. While I know it may be quicker and save a few steps, crossing outside of the crosswalk removes you from any of the privileges you have by state law. If you have to cross mid block, take every precaution to make sure that it is indeed safe to cross. Do not assume that any of the vehicles actually sees you; rather assume that they do not.

For parents of the school bound, know their route of travel and maybe even walk it with them either in the first few days or prior to school commencing. Go over emergency precautions regarding what to do if they find themselves in an unsafe situation. While not always stylish or available, try to have something brightly colored on their person which will increase their visible presence.