To the editor:

How would you feel if, through unawareness and preoccupation, time deadlines (too many errands, rushing to get to the next place on time, speed, road and weather conditions) that you hit a child crossing a busy street on their way to school?

I am a crossing guard close to James Street at Marshall Middle School. I try to be mindful of traffic dropping off children at school, going to the next school, being on time for your job, etc. I try to give drivers as much notice as I can before I put out my flag. Yet, some drivers seem to be surprised when they come to the crosswalk and I am out there with my flag and children are preparing to cross and sometimes are actually in the cross walk. I have had several instances where the driver continues to proceed through my flag.

This unawareness and preoccupation of drivers has got to stop before innocent children are injured and possibly even killed.

I am asking that when traveling on Saratoga Street and other school zones in Marshall at the beginning of the school day and at the end of the school day that drivers pay attention to the foot traffic at the school crossings. And if the weather is bad either from snow, or rain, etc., that drivers are able to stop their vehicles in time to avoid the potential hazard of injuring innocent children.

Jackie Doom

Marshall