4-year-old Tallahassee boy, Christopher Robles, dies after being hit by car at Hartsfield Elementary

writer lady — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 15:43:00 GMT

Just minutes ago a 4-year-old boy died in front of my son’s school. There is no one to blame in this tragedy; he jumped out of his mom's car and darted into the street in front of another car. There was an SUV parked next to his parent’s car, so the teacher who hit him couldn’t see him in the second before impact. He was just too fast and too small for either his mom or the driver to prevent this accident.

But I want there to be someone to blame. I think it’s natural for parents to try to find someone or something that can be changed to prevent this from happening again to our own children. Parents can’t—and shouldn’t—easily withstand feeling helpless to protect their children.

A few months ago I noticed that there were a lot of cars speeding through the school zones near my son’s school. I called the police and asked that they assign a patrol car to the area to ticket and deter speeding drivers. The response I got was one of commiseration, frustration and helplessness. There were only six officers available to handle all traffic management in the entire city, including dozens of school zones. And in that week those few officers were especially overwhelmed because two students had been struck by motorists.

We’re about to approve city and school budgets that further cut funding for school crossing guards and traffic enforcement officers. If the budget passes, there is every likelihood that more kids are going to be injured or killed. It’s no one’s fault that painful budget cuts have to be made. Our failing economy demands it.

Tallahassee has been recognized as having the best parks in the country and has always provided well for our families. Years ago Parenting magazine named Tallahassee the best place in America to raise a family. We’ve been named as an All America city. Our schools are among the best in the state.

We’re proud of these accomplishments and honors, but I, for one, am willing to forego some of our park services and perks. I’m willing to drive on patched and potholed streets. I’m willing to wait longer at traffic lights rather than pay for new road construction. I’m willing to volunteer in my son’s school to fill the breach. But I’m not willing to see my child’s safety compromised, nor should any parent or childless community member be.

Having an additional crossing guard or traffic cop on the job couldn’t have prevented this morning’s fatal accident. But it might prevent the next one.

Make the cuts somewhere else, but find funding somewhere to better safeguard our kids while they start and end their school days.

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4-year-old Tallahassee boy, Christopher Robles, dies after being hit by car at Hartsfield Elementary