Elementary school: Slow down at crosswalks
Bonneville County schools are warning drivers about driving in school zones, specifically through crosswalks.
Students walking home from Discovery Elementary Schools are led across Iona Road by crossing guard Vanessa Martinez. Martinez has been the crossing guard here since the spring. In that time, she says she’s been almost hit by a car three times, sometimes when kids are right behind her. She says most of the close calls happen in the morning when drivers are going east and are blinded by the sun.
“One gentleman who actually we almost had an incident with, I was crossing with a mother and her child and the mother was pretty upset,” Martinez said. “So she confronted this man and said, ‘Hey, you need to slow down’ and he said ‘Well, I can’t see’ and we said, ‘Well, that’s all the more reason for you to obey the speed limit and be aware and, you know, just pay attention to the surroundings.'”
Martinez says other drivers are not paying attention and speed through the school zone, which is 20 mph. Discovery Elementary School says they have not had any incidents yet, but there have been close calls. It says it is just a matter of time before something terrible does happen.
“Especially in this newer neighborhood where not all the sidewalks are complete, students end up walking out along the street,” said Ken Marlowe, principal of Discovery Elementary School. “And so we try to keep them as safe as we can, but it’s going to take a lot of help from our parents and neighborhood drivers and that kind of thing as well.”
Elementary, junior high and high school kids all cross at this Iona Road and Golden Rod Drive intersection. Martinez and the school ask that people pay attention to their surroundings and not risk someone’s life.
“I understand we’re all busy, we all, you know, I understand how sometimes morning for school can be crazy,” Martinez said. “I’ve got kids as well, so I understand how it can be crazy, but just slow down, take your time. Shaving a few minutes, seconds off of your time is not worth taking the life of a child or anybody.”
