Spring in McHenry is the season of the flashing construction sign. August is the month of those little animals that are the most precious – Children!

We’ve had to watch out for them all summer as McHenry students have been out of school for Summer Break. But this is different. This is where children are out and about going to and returning from school, as well as when they’re on playgrounds and such at schools.

This period of watching for children while driving comes with greater regularity, which can moderate the risks somewhat. But it also comes with frequent urgency.

School generally starts in the morning and ends in the evening. The busses are busy these times of day, as well as children walking near the roads in some instances. But think about what happens when a child is trying to catch the bus at the last minute.

A child running for the bus isn’t always as careful about traffic. With their focus on getting to the bus before it leaves, they may not think about you in your car at all.

Then you have children waiting at the bus stop. You’ve seen them. They’re generally not like adults. Adults are likely to stand waiting for the bus. The most likely activity is to talk or read. They may not even do that. But children are different.

Children like to play catch. Sometimes, catch includes keep-away, with someone in the middle trying to get their hat or book back. Sometimes they play tag. They may wrestle. Adults don’t usually do this at a bus stop unless they’re wrestling with a purse snatcher.

When children are busy playing, they’re not always thinking about traffic. Add to that the tendency of the young to think of themselves as almost invincible and you can see who this can cause hazardous situations. YOU NEED TO KEEP YOUR EYES PEELED and drive carefully.

Also, keep in mind that the youngest students often do a half-day of school. They may get on or off the bus around noon. Fortunately, at their age, they’re accompanied by adults. But those little ones can sometimes get loose from their mother or father. We can only hope they won’t run out into the street. And if they do, and you’re driving by, we sure hope you can stop.

There are laws designed to protect children at or coming and going to school. For instance, you have to stop for a school bus when the STOP arm is out. But, frankly, you may want to adjust your speed around a school bus even when the arm isn’t out.

There also speed limits in school zones. These are generally 20 mph. And the penalties for breaking these laws are intense.

For speeding in a school zone, you could face a $1,000 fine and lose your license. Passing a stopped school bus will result in a mandatory $150 fine and a three-month suspension of your license.

The legal penalties are nothing, however, compared to the all-around emotional and/or physical tragedy when someone kits a child with their vehicle. 

Children are headed back to school in McHenry. It’s a good idea to keep that in mind and adjust your driving accordingly.