Are stop signs needed? The usual 20 mph signs and crosswalks work on B Street. I would think that would work elsewhere.

I added observations about similarities at Robert Gray School as an afterthought and contrast. Given its location right on heavily-travelled B Street, perhaps little more can or should be done at Robert Gray.

But, note that B Street is substantially wider than Cushing, B Street has paved shoulder/parking areas to the side of the travelled lane, and B Street has good sidewalks on both sides of the street near the school. The Stevens kids get to either weave among the haphazardly parked cars and wade through deep puddles, or walk in the narrow street. Most kids walk in the street. Not a good situation.

I worked at a school where a first grade student saw his dad and ran across the street. He was hit by a car and died in the principal's arms with his father looking on in horror. Everything changed at that school regarding pick-ups and drop-offs. Nothing was too much.

Oh.My! Horrific. It should never have to come to something like that to put proper safety precautions in place.

I have picked up grandchildren at this school. There is a big parking lot alongside the skateboard park in front of the school. We all parked there and waited. Picking kids up was never a problem but, as mentioned, kids walking to school have no sidewalks and I have seen some walking on the side of the roadway itself.

Until I read this thread I never thought much about the situation. Going down Cushing Street there is one side with nothing but ballfields. Seldom are there cars there and visibility is great, no invisible places between cars to suddenly dash out of between.

Many years ago I hit a child with my car on First Street in the area behind the old YMCA. There was an old bus parked, no visibility of the sidewalk. From the space in front of the bus a grade school aged kid, I am guessing fourth grade, suddenly flew out straight into my the path of my car. One second, no one around and the next a flying bundle of child full speed infront of me. I braked and swerved hard towards the center of the road. I still bumped him but that was all. He was unhurt but had I been older and my reactions slower it would have been worse.

I insisted he tell me where his house was. He did not want to because he knew he was going to get into trouble. I told the mother and the kid was right. He was in trouble but he was unhurt.

This could have been so much worse and I never drive by that area of road and don't think about it. If there are cars parked, especially big cars and things like a bus, there is a chance of a kid or dog appearing from nowhere in your path.

On Cushing that is unlikely. I think most of us slow down if there are children in the area. For the rest we need some crosswalks and 20 mph signs and flashing lights at the least. I cannot believe I never even noticed the absence of them there.

I think the reverse is true. I live in this area and have a school bus stop across from my house. Once in awhile you will see someone driving slow by the kids but, for the most part they are treated like moving obstacles. I think you are thinking like an older person.

Bernie.

That hurt. How about thinking like a smarter person? Less sting there.

Yeah, I like that. I hate reminders that I am old before my time.

I'm glad the kid was ok, but the hair goes up on the back of my neck for you. Had the worst happened, through no fault of your own, you'd be a different person because of the weight of the unnecessary guilt.

I'm far from perfect and I know all of my children and siblings and other relatives I've taught drive are not perfect either. But, as my father taught me, a gun is always treated as loaded, and electric wires are always treated as hot, I taught that from behind any parked car or obstruction, a child could come and someday will come. And to be prepared for it.

There's a corner on Beacon Hill Drive and Lil' Stash was taking me down the hill one day. I asked him before he got to the corner, "Do you know why there is no sign with the 'suggested speed' going around this corner?"

"No," was the obvious response.

"Because the only safe speed is zero. Remember that on wet or icy days. This corner isn't safe in dry conditions."

So far he hasn't ended up across the many-time-replaced barracade, yet.

Good advice. Always prepare for Murphy's Law. That's really the point of it.