September’s Roads
By Lisa Bonanno

As another summer winds down, the roads perk up with school buses and students of all ages on their way to class. We’ll need extra time to idle behind while children board in their spiffy new clothes and shiny backpacks. We’ll watch the antics through the bus’s back door window when it stops at the railroad crossings. Hopefully we will have allowed enough extra time for these small but important interruptions.

With school back in, some speed limits near schools will go down. The appearance of crossing guards is a reminder, but not all corners with student traffic will have a crossing guard. It’s just a good idea to slow down near schools. 
 
Then there’s the high school crowd. The groups traveling and socializing together sometimes seem oblivious to the driving public. 

Even if they’re walking alone, they’re likely to be texting, browsing or chatting on the phone. At any time, they’re likely to stray into the roadway due to roughhousing or simple distraction. At that age, social pursuits usually trump all else, so drivers beware.

In Cumberland County, September challenges drivers with tractors and other slow-moving farm equipment complicating the back-to-school traffic. Harvest will still be underway throughout the month. Keep alert for vehicles entering and exiting fields. Even if it’s a route we travel often, farmers turn and slow down when we don’t expect it.

We need to contend with autumn’s falling leaves. These present a slipping hazard for drivers and pedestrians especially when roads are wet. We need to be on watch for squirrels and animals who are preparing to hibernate and busily criss-crossing roads in their quest for winter food. If we don’t watch for them, we’ll create more road kill.

Driving in September is a change from the sleepy haze of summer, but by now most of us are ready for a livelier pace. Let’s allow plenty of extra time and keep our eyes wide open for a safe trip.

Lisa Bonanno, RN, is a Vineland mother of 5, organic gardener, and Juice Plus representative. Visit her site at https://peacenjuiceplus.com.