Holland & Usry September 2018

Share the Road With Students

DRIVE SAFELY IN SCHOOL ZONES

For kids, heading back to school involves adapting to an entirely new schedule. Adults have to adapt as well, whether or not they have little ones. One of the biggest changes all commuters notice is that the roads work a little differently when school’s in session. Traffic patterns change and young pedestrians cross the road en masse. Sharing the road with students requires diligence and precaution from drivers.

Stop completely at all stop signs and scan for children. Similarly, keep your ears open to listen for children outside of your field of vision. Turn off the radio and roll down a window to give yourself increased situational awareness. SLOW DOWN IN SCHOOL ZONES, AND EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED. No matter the time of day, you should never exceed the posted school zone limit. In fact, you should drive slower than the posted limit. Children can pop out at a moment’s notice. Don’t assume you know how a child will behave. MAKE EYE CONTACT WITH CHILDREN AT INTERSECTIONS. Kids don’t perceive the danger of traffic the same way adults do. Unless you are entirely certain a child has registered your presence, you should consider yourself invisible. TAKE CARE WITH SCHOOL BUSES. Keep extra distance between yourself and school buses. Yellow warning lights signal that a bus is about to stop, and red lights mean they have stopped. You must stop as well and allow all children to cross before moving. Wait a few seconds after the bus gets going to accelerate.

According to AAA, more school-aged pedestrians are killed in crashes right after school (from 3–4 p.m.) than any other time. And it’s not just elementary schoolers. Tweens and teens are equally vulnerable, especially since so many of them are now plugged into smartphones or texting as they walk. Additionally, the National Highway Transportation Administration reports that the greatest danger facing the 23 million children who ride the bus is approaching or leaving the bus — not riding it.

So, how can you stay safe while driving in and around school zones? Here are a few tips.

STOP, LOOK, LISTEN, AND PUT DOWN YOUR PHONE. Any time you are near a school zone, you need to remain hyper alert. No call or text message is worth the life of a child. Good News Psalms 31:24 Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD. Hebrews 13:8 When everything seems to be changing, we can rely on God’s constancy.

LATE-SUMMER PANZANELLA

Ingredients

1/2 red onion, thinly sliced

1 small loaf French bread, cut into 1-inch cubes (6 cups) 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

1 cucumber, sliced into rounds

20 basil leaves, chopped

Salt, to taste

2 large tomatoes, cubed

Vinaigrette

2 red bell peppers, seeded and cubed

Directions

1. Place a large sauté pan over medium-low heat and add olive oil. Add bread and 1 teaspoon salt, and toss often for 10 minutes or until toasted. 2. In a large bowl, mix vegetables and herbs. Toss in bread and your favorite vinaigrette and mix again. 3. Serve immediately or let sit 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together. Inspired by Food Network

864.582.0416

Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online