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Kids cause
Off the Wall
Sept 20, 2007
Every year, there seems to exist a problem that
has yet to be resolved. Too many parents driving their kids to
school fail to observe the rules that are set up by the city
and school district. Of consequence, they are endangering the
youth either going to or coming from the school property. I just
don't get it.
I greet many of the parents each morning who walk
their offspring to Latrobe Elementary School. It is fun to be
among people who are so willing to listen to the fire/policeman
who is really acting on their behalf. This much needed officer
as well as all fire/policemen need to be respected, for what
they are doing is geared toward the safety of the children. Without
them, I'm afraid it would be a bit chaotic.
But what really gripes me are parents who refuse
to stop when an indication is given to do so by an officer controlling
the traffic for what I refer to as the kid's cause.
Just recently, I was standing on the corner of Irving
Ave. and Ligonier St. when the uniformed officer raised his hands
for all motorists to stop. A woman in a dark red car came up
Irving Ave. to make a left hand turn. The officer, seeing that
she was not slowing down, proceeded to his right to get the woman's
attention. She accelerated around the corner as if he was never
there and continued on her way.
What would have happened if a child seeing this
officer holding up traffic had decided to take upon himself to
cross the street just then? There may have been a real problem.
Maybe she would have run into the child or killed him, who knows?
I can't stress enough the importance of fire/policemen
when it comes to the kid's cause.
Another problem that seems to be occurring year
after year are parents letting out their children from their
cars into the roadway and not onto the sidewalks. Drivers not
expecting to see car doors suddenly open have to slam on their
brakes to prevent accidents from happening. It only takes a little
common sense to realize that children must exit on the sidewalk
side if they are to be kept out of harm's way. How one gets that
message to the parents beats me.
Need I tell you about the cell phone problem? The
sooner a law is enacted banning them concerning their use by
motorists operating a motor vehicle, the better. It is my opinion,
people using them in a school zone should be fined plain
and simple. If parents would rather talk on these instruments
and not pay attention to those directing traffic, they are risking
the lives of the children. Drivers must be attentive at all times.
If not, motorists must be dealt with stern consequences.
One thing that scares the willies out of me are
kids darting from between cars into the road. If you think this
does not happen at LES, think again. I have witnessed it innumerable
times. The parents will park across the street from the school
down to Irving Ave. Instead of the parents and children crossing
where the fire/policemen are posted, the kids will run out into
the road followed by the parents behind them. It is imperative,
to say the least, that if a parent chooses to park on the opposite
side of the street, it must be his responsibility to seek a corner
where an officer is directing traffic. It is there where both
parents and children must cross. If a parent takes the law into
his own hands and something happens to the child he has only
himself to blame.
As I see it, the facts are on the table. The value
of our fire/policemen in our community is priceless. The protection
of the kid's cause is also priceless. Doesn't it stand to reason
that a little extra effort be taken for the sake of our youth?
Paul j. volkmann
9/12/07
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