LIMA, Ohio (WLIO) – As students head back to school, AAA, the City of Lima and Lima City School officials are reminding motorists to watch out for children and buses heading to and from school.
For about 15 years, the Lima office of AAA has issued reminders to motorists to drive carefully and watch for students and buses on the road. This year, they are partnering with the Lima Police Department and Lima City Schools to urge drivers to slow down and stay alert.
“But we want them to make sure they're watching their surroundings, seeing where the kids are at, making sure they're stopping for those school buses. Don't be in a hurry,” said Eric Mericle, Lima’s DARE and Safety City officer.
“You know, the kids are the future, and so it just makes sense for us to partner with the schools and do this reminder to people to really drive carefully during this time,” said Cindy Nelson, manager of AAA Lima.
Lima City Schools Superintendent Andre Rudolph also is reminding drivers to keep their phones down, especially in school zones.
“Put the phones down. Make sure that they're visible. Make sure they see all of our students. This is our most precious commodity in the community, right? Our human life. So those extra few seconds, or those extra few minutes that you may think you're saving by speeding up can actually change the lifetime of somebody else,” Rudolph said.
“Now in a school zone, it's 20 miles an hour when students are present, so just make sure on the way to and from school, you're going that speed limit, because it gives you that much more time to stop as you're going slow,” added Mericle.
AAA has placed buses with signs around Lima to remind drivers that school is in session and to drive carefully.
“When you're driving, you notice a school bus. It's just one of those things, oh, there's a school bus. You see that bright yellow symbol, and it's just that reminder. And so we put these busses out just to get people used to seeing them again,” Nelson said.
They also encourage parents to talk to their teens about safe driving. One in four fatal crashes involving teen drivers happens between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m., when schools and after-school activities are letting out.
