State troopers tell drivers to watch for kids and buses as school starts
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The Missouri State Highway Patrol is telling drivers to be aware of school starting again in hopes of reducing the close to 900 crashes involving school buses last year.
The patrol says 877 crashes last year involved buses.
According to AAA, crashes are one of the leading causes of death for school-aged children, with one-third of crashes occurring in the afternoon and evening hours.
Students commuting to school are advised to stay alert. If walking, use sidewalks and marked crosswalks. Students cycling to school should wear proper safety equipment and obey traffic signs.
"All of a sudden we go from all summer long not having any school buses in the area to pop in over the hill, and there's a school bus half a mile up the road," Boone County Sheriff Capt. Brian Leer said. "Reduce the distractions, that's our best advice to everyone."
The patrol says many traffic crashes occur between 3 and 4 p.m. with young drivers as school lets out. Parents are encouraged to talk to their kids about the importance of staying engaged when driving and avoiding distractions such as texting.
The patrol advises all drivers to stay alert around school zones and bike paths, be prepared for a change in traffic patterns, and to pay attention around school buses.
The Hallsville School District approved a crosswalk agreement with the City of Hallsville in May. The agreement included the installation of two marked crosswalks on North Street and Ricketts Road.
Additionally, on campus, the school is adding an interior sidewalk that connects the school to nearby roads and a neighborhood path so students can walk in a more secluded environment away from vehicles.
The school is still in the middle of construction with the sidewalk partially completed and only one of the two crosswalks ready for the school year.
"A lot of people in those small towns have to walk to school," Leer said. "They really rely on everybody looking out for them as they're journeying back and forth from home to school."
