A Child Got Hit by a Car Today Near Her School

Today, while crossing the street next to her school, a child was hit by a car. It was an early release day. The girl was hit just before 1:20 pm.

There is a lot to be said about what happened yesterday. I will let others talk about those things.

But I will note this. It was an early release day from school. The kids know that. The drivers do not. Early release dramatically changes traffic patterns around schools. Particularly where a school is located near a heavy traffic area, this can be significant. If 99% of the year the school releases at 2:20 pm, then all those cars that drive in that neighborhood get to know and anticipate the school release. Like it or not, we are creatures of habit, and people tend to commute at the same time in the same place on the same day. And if school release is part of their traffic pattern, they learn to watch out for children.

1% of the year, schools release early - for a reason that eludes me. This places the children in an entirely different traffic pattern, with drivers that are not use to and do not anticipate children being in the street.

As annoying as rush hour is, I always find rush hour to be safer. Everyone knows their route. They know where they are going. They know the danger spots. They know what to do. Its the Saturday morning, the out of pattern traffic, that I always find the most difficult.

Early release causes out of pattern traffic. It puts children in danger. Is it worth it?

On an early release day, students go to all their classes - only the classes are pretty much cut in half. The students sit down. Attendance is taken. And in a few minutes the students get up again. There is never enough time to get anything done. Early release days are always a wasted day for the students.

Whatever is gained by early release days seems to be lost by the risk created from out of pattern traffic.