Every day, an alarming average of 44 children are struck by vehicles while walking, many of them on their way to school. This statistic is nothing short of terrifying. What kind of individual jeopardizes the safety of kids simply because they are running late?
In a revealing report by journalist Alex Harper from the Today Show, we witness law enforcement monitoring vehicle speeds in a school zone. Shockingly, some cars were clocked at speeds reaching 56 MPH. In a school zone! The police set up a speed trap right outside the school, and within moments, they caught a driver—an individual named Sarah—zooming past at 53 MPH. When asked how fast she believed she was going, Sarah casually responded, “I thought I was doing around 30 or 35.” Really? There’s a speedometer right in front of you; there’s no excuse for not being fully aware of your speed while driving.
Harper pressed an officer on whether traveling at 50 MPH would allow enough time to stop if a child suddenly appeared in the road. The officer flatly stated, “No. Definitely not.” When Harper turned to Sarah again, asking why she was speeding in a school zone, her excuse was, “I didn’t think I was going that fast. You just go with the flow of traffic.” But let’s be clear: you shouldn’t have to “assume” anything. The speed limit in these areas exists for a critical reason.
Indeed, the speed limits in school zones are intentionally low. For instance, the limit around my child’s school is just 15 MPH. This is designed to protect the lives of children who are walking. No one should prioritize their schedule over a child’s safety. Such negligence is inexcusable, and yes, I’m unrepentantly passionate about this issue. When you’re behind the wheel, you are handling a potentially lethal machine—a several-thousand-pound vehicle that can cause devastating harm if not operated with care.
Shortly after the first speeding incident, another driver, named Jessica, was caught speeding at 52 MPH. When questioned, she simply said, “I guess I’m in a hurry.” According to the Federal Highway Administration, when a vehicle strikes a pedestrian at speeds of 40 MPH or more, there’s an 80% chance that the pedestrian will not survive. In contrast, reducing that speed to 20 MPH lowers the fatality rate to less than 10%.
Next time you find yourself in a rush in a school zone, remember that no appointment or engagement is worth risking a child’s life. Your time constraints do not take precedence over a child’s safety.
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In summary, the reckless behavior of some drivers in school zones is downright alarming and poses a serious threat to the safety of our children. We must all commit to being more vigilant and responsible while driving—because every child’s life is invaluable.
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