Children’s safety is worth slowing down for

Bill Wilson

Friday, Aug. 22, 2008 | midnight

I want to talk about two scenarios involving me to illustrate a point.

Scenario 1: I leave my house in the morning and trek down to the Las Vegas Valley to show up for an appointment I have made weeks ago. I have my Cleveland Browns coffee mug full and the morning news radio on.

Everything is going fine when, lo and behold, somebody puts a 15 mph school zone smack dab in my way. I hit my brakes and take my car to a mind-numbingly slow speed. The flashing lights begin taunting me.

I know it’s necessary, but doesn’t anyone understand that I have to get to where I’m going?

This brings us to Scenario 2: On a different day, I am at the fire station around the time school lets out. Hundreds of children, three of whom are mine, are making their way home in one fashion or another.

Our dispatcher comes over the station PA and announces that there has been a motor vehicle accident involving a pedestrian on Adams Boulevard. My heart sinks wondering who the pedestrian might be as we quickly respond.

Things are definitely put into perspective and my first scenario seems selfish and inconsiderate at this point.

Keeping kids safe in school zones should be a top priority for our community. The responsibility lies not only with drivers but also with parents and the students themselves.

We must teach our children to use safe routes to school, use crosswalks, walk bikes in crosswalks (it’s the law) and follow safety rules.

Parents: Lead by example. Use crosswalks. Don’t park on or near crosswalks or in No Parking zones. Hang up that cell phone, obey speed limits, and be patient.

For further information please contact the Boulder City Fire Department 293-9228.

Bill Wilson, a firefighter-paramedic for the Boulder City Fire Department, can be reached at 293-9228.