COMMENTARY: Always drive responsibly

  • Published
  • By Timothy P. Cahill Sr.
  • 49th Wing Occupational Safety Manager
HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  The morning of Aug. 18 was the first day of school on Holloman Air Force Base this year.

I ventured out to observe the traffic, and safety for our school children and parents taking their children to school.

The school zone lights began flashing promptly at 7 a.m., and, at 7:05 a.m., I watched a lady exiting the base driving approximately 30 mph in her white SUV. She was oblivious to the flashing lights in the school zone.

Ninety-nine percent of the drivers complied with the law when the lights began flashing. In fact, I only observed five vehicles that I thought might be speeding.

Law Enforcement, our Community Police, stopped 3 vehicles, I think, and issued tickets or warnings appropriately. 

In the afternoon, I again watched the traffic exiting the base, and the school zone as the children and parents walked home. Security Forces, once again, were issuing speeding tickets or warnings.

Despite many drivers doing the right things, we did have two close calls.

I was standing in the middle of the crosswalk in a safety vest with both arms up stopping traffic for two parents with two children crossing the road. Suddenly, a male driver with his spouse and two children in a minivan came flying right through the crosswalk and didn't stop.

The parents screamed, and I scrambled out of the way.

The occupants of the van were driving too fast and were focused on the Police vehicle. They were rubber-necking, watching the patrol car to see if he was going to pull out and ticket them. When they looked back around, they were already in the intersection about to run us over.

They had a panicked look on their faces as they went through the intersection with the five of us scrambling for safety - a classic case of distracted driving.

It could have been fatal. This same afternoon, another distracted driver, this time a single male, did the same thing -- not stopping and driving right through the crosswalk with a crossing guard, and a mother and her three children, one in a stroller. Once again, we were lucky no one was injured.

I just wanted to scream, "What's the matter with you!"

My story has an important moral.

Pedestrians and crossing guards had better be alert because, unfortunately, some drivers aren't always paying attention or driving safely.

Drivers, this could be you. Pay attention. Slow down and watch for children or anyone crossing the road, especially in the crosswalks.

Get off your cell phones -- drive and nothing else. Leave your radio alone and pay attention.

I don't know about you, but I would feel horrible if I ran over a child. I don't think I would ever get over it. So, I want to offer all Holloman drivers some serious advice: Please, slow down and drive responsibly.