School is in and children are swarming.

Tuesday, August 24, 1999

School is in and children are swarming. If you live near a school, you see them every day meandering their way to and from school.

If you watch them closely, you will see that they are looking at a pal, the ground or off into space. They are paying little attention to the world around them.

Mix that with streets, school bus stops and the threat of a tardy and you get a potentially dangerous combination.

There is not a driver in the Tri-State who has not been caught behind a school bus when he or she is late to work. The temptation is to get impatient and to try to figure out a way to get around the bus before you make yourself even later.

So, some drivers will try to scoot around, ignoring the flashing lights or other warnings that the bus is about to slow down and stop for children.

And one of these days, there is going to be a tragedy.

Children do not watch for cars – even if they have been trained well by their parents. They see the bus and they run, with little regard for the danger they could be in.

It is up to the drivers to make sure that they are watching for the children. Staying behind a bus is better than passing – illegally – and risking the life of a child.

Err on the side of caution when it comes to children.