School Crossings- The Danger Zone

School Crossings- The Danger Zone: "Traffic issues around schools has become a major problem nation-wide. Every weekday between seven thirty and nine, elementary school kids are trying to cross streets heavy with commuter traffic on its way to work. With this mixture of kids and cars, there is always a chance for tragedy. To make the problem worse, studies show that nearly 2/3 of drivers speed through school zones. Around 700 children die each year in pedestrian traffic accidents and around 40 to 50 thousand more are treated for injury related to pedestrian car accidents

Part of the problem is that children under 10 have dificulty judging how far away a vehicle is, or how fast it is moving. They are also easily distracted, and pay little attention to traffic while talking and playing. They often assume the driver has seen them, so it is ok for them to cross. Children also frequently cross the street in their designated area's without looking, assuming all drivers will obey the cross walk rules and stop. Unfortuantely this is not always the case." ...(Click on title link above to read entire article) ...