As the mother of a toddler and a former elementary school principal, my heart aches every time I hear about a child or adult injured in a school zone. It’s a fear that lingers in the back of every parent’s mind — the thought of our little ones walking to school, so vulnerable and full of life, only to be struck down by a reckless driver. We teach them to look both ways and to be careful, but, ultimately, their safety rests in the hands of those behind the wheel.
Last April, that fear became a reality for the family of 5-year-old Isaiah Silva. He was walking to Len Lastinger Elementary School in Tifton, just steps the school doors, when a minivan struck him in the crosswalk. Can you imagine the horror of that moment? Isaiah suffered a traumatic brain injury, requiring him to be placed in a medically induced coma for weeks. He spent almost two months in the hospital fighting for his life. Thankfully, he survived, but his life will never be the same.
Credit: Handout
Credit: Handout
Then there’s the story of Edna Umeh, a crossing guard at Lindley Middle School in Cobb County. She dedicated her days to ensuring the safety of children walking to and from school. Tragically, she lost her own life doing so. Umeh was hit and killed by a speeding driver right in front of the school, in front of the very children she was trying to protect.
These stories are not isolated incidents. They are a stark reminder of the dangers present in our school zones every single day. Across Georgia, parents, school officials and law enforcement officers are coming together to prioritize school-zone safety. We are demanding action, pleading for change and searching for solutions to protect our children.
One of the most effective tools we have in this fight is the installation of school-zone safety cameras. These cameras have proved time and time again to reduce speeding and accidents significantly. Studies show they can cut speeding by up to 90% and accident rates in half. Parents want them. School officials want them. Law enforcement wants them. They work. But getting these cameras installed is a complicated process. It involves a needs-based traffic study, a local government applicant and approval from the Georgia Department of Transportation. It’s a bureaucratic maze that often leaves schools and communities feeling frustrated and helpless.
To make matters worse, several Georgia legislators want to get rid of this successful safety program altogether. Why? Because they are listening to the wrong people. They are listening to the speeders who complain about getting tickets instead of listening to the parents, grandparents, teachers and concerned citizens who are begging for safer streets for our children. Imagine thieves and home invaders calling their elected officials to complain about burglar alarms, neighborhood watch groups or doorbell cameras. Then imagine your elected representative siding with the perpetrators over traumatized homeowners and terrified victims. That’s essentially what’s happening when lawmakers prioritize the complaints of speeders over the safety of our children.
Our lawmakers need to summon the courage to tell speeders who complain to simply slow down for a hundred yards or so in school zones. It’s a small inconvenience that can save lives. If the speeders are louder than our families, the right to speed through school zones will win over our right to keep our kids safe. We cannot allow that to happen. We need to make our voices heard. We need to contact our elected officials and demand that they prioritize the safety of our children.
For more information on how to make your voice heard, go to https://giveschoolkidsabrake.com/. Your life and your children’s lives may well depend on it.
This isn’t just about statistics and traffic studies. It’s about real children, like Isaiah, who suffered life-altering injuries, and real heroes, like Edna Umeh, who lost their lives protecting others. It’s about creating a safe environment where our children can walk to school without fear, where parents can breathe a sigh of relief knowing their kids will arrive safely. It’s about making our school zones havens, not danger zones. We owe it to our children to do everything in our power to protect them.
Ashley Rose-Toomer, a former school principal, is the executive director of Give School Kids a Brake.
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