School will be back in session soon. Lets Solve Problems with practical approaches!

HOW do we fix it? There is road construction everywhere. School buses will be picking up and dropping off school kids on ever busier streets due to road repairs. I posted this blog back in May of 2011, in hope that someone would take a practical approach to keeping school kids safer. Not to long ago we experienced a deadly accident involving a school child and a dump truck..... Since then not much has been done about making it safer for school kids on these busy street. I hope by republishing this we could avert another serious accident. The loss of a young life, due to an accident is painful and most importantly a lingering reminder that something needs to be done. A 12 year old was  run over by a dump truck, IT WAS tragic. The driver didn't STOP, he should have! But the laws on the books may not be as easy, as we think, to enforce. The roads are busy during the hours that School buses transport children. We need to look for practical solutions that can be done quickly. Here are some Questions that many may be asking:

• What are the current traffic laws regarding dropping off and picking up Students in neighborhoods? 
• Are these laws enforceable if the school bus STOP sign isn't visible to on coming drivers?
• With the Island having drivers with licenses from many parts of the World renting cars or even operating heavy equipment, are they knowledgeable of the Local traffic laws ?
• Can and will Parliament or the Justice and Education Ministries address these types of problems with  solution? Quickly !

My response:  Use a practical approach, make it clear with preventive action and My version of K.I.S.S. Keep It Simple  Signs.

Parliament can then amend the Laws that are then enforceable, after the signs are UP..

1. Establish School bus drop and pickup points, these should be designated areas in all the neighborhoods. Clearly indicated with speed bumps, on both sides of the street. With the above signs warning drivers that they are in School bus drop-off area.   
2. Schools aren't the only zones that should have signs. The responsibility of taking care of OUR children is every-bodies responsibility. Bright Yellow WARNING signs will help all drivers act more responsibly.
3. Then use a practical approach to amending  the Traffic Laws....... Brokers: Govt needs to activate ‘guarantee fund’ against losses.Government should activate the "guarantee fund" outlined in the motor insurance ordinance to help pay claims against, for example, uninsured motorists.
4. Educate the students on how to wait for the School bus, and most important teach then about safety.

Make local Videos like this one that will make kids relate to their local situation.

This, I believe, will be a start.

Get on the School Bus and have a safe ride to school and back home!