Valerie G. Barnes Connell Jordan
Northern Advocate
It makes me sad to experience the lack of respect and care for children in my community. Not just my community, but many, actually.
I’ve not always been a rule-follower. Sometimes I think rules were made for breaking, but not when it comes to the lives of children.
Living in Winnipeg when my children were younger was when I first became aware of the carelessness of drivers when it comes to children on their way to school.
As parents many of us were concerned, but nothing was done.
And then, the intolerable happened!!! A child was killed crossing the street on their way to school. The child died. It was so sad, and scary.
We all knew our children were at risk, but nothing was done.
Then, something was done. Speed limits were decreased, and other things were put in place, potentially for the protection of children.
I have to say I appreciate the councils for the three communities, Lac La Ronge Indian Band (LLRIB), Northern Village of Air Ronge and Town of La Ronge, for making the speed limit on streets near the schools 30 Km/Hr 24/7.
That way I don’t have to worry if I’m changing speeds at the right time, or whatever. It’s the same no matter what time of day it happens to be when I’m driving in the area.
Who knows when children may be in a particular area either?
While I haven’t particularly seen it here, I have seen children out at all times of the night in some areas.
To be blunt, I don’t really care. If the speed is set, it helps me know to just slowdown in that place.
What I experience – a extremely small fraction of the drivers in the school zones, slow down.
I’ve even been passed a few times in the school zone. More commonly than not, drivers are not slowing. And, if they do slowdown, it’s because someone in front of them has slowed. The tailgater is trying to pass to get somewhere faster, for a any of a myriad of reasons.
Whatever, they are tailgating, which is dangerous and just compounds the problem!
That puts any children around at more risk.
Tailgating, particularly if you have a load on your vehicle, is dangerous!!!
If a child were to run out onto the street in front of you; chances are you could hit them.
In the event someone is tailgating, there is a strong chance the vehicle would likely push the vehicle being tailgated forward, thus, causing increased damage … maybe loss of life!
The speed reduction in school zones is a community taking responsibility for the safety of its children.
Most drivers, I think, would think they know all this; but, the majority don’t actually drive as if they do. I’ve even read some discussions on whether there should be reduction in speed limits late at night made on the assumption children would not be out at that time of night.
Luckily, when you speed through a school zone, most of the time, nothing happens, but there is always that risk!
Slowing down contributes to the safety, responsibility and care for children.
Is your rush worth really the loss of a child’s life, maybe your child’s?
