The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

THURSDAY, AUGUST 31, 2006 THE NEW TANNER 9 Drive Carefully! Schools back! Hours: Mon.- 11-5, Tues., Wed.- 10-5, Thurs., Fri., 10-5:30, Sat., 10-5 Sun., CLOSED ?????????????????????????????????????????????? ??? ????????????????????????????????? ?????????????????? ????????????????????????????? ???????????????????????? ???????????????????????? ???????????????? ???? ???????????? ???????????????????? ???????????? ?????????? ???????? ???????????????????? ??????????????????? ??????????????????? ???????????? ??????????? ?????????????????????????????? ???????????????? ????????????????? ?????????????? ?????????????? ???????????????? ?????? ??????? ????? ?? ???? ???????? ??????????????????????????? ????? ??????? ????????????????????????????????????????????? ????? ?????? ????????????????? ???? ?????????????????????? ????? ??????????????? ????????????????? ????????????????? ???????? ??????? ???????? ???? ??? ??? ??????? ?????? ???????????????????? ??????? ???????????????????? ??????????????????? ?? ? ? ?? ? ??? ?? ? ??????????????? ????????????????????? ??????? ???????????? 119 Mill St. E., Acton (519) 853-5066 Watch for kids Schools start next Tuesday (Septem- ber 5) and school buses will be picking up and dropping off students. Police are reminding drivers they must stop for school buses when signal lights are flashing. Every year, police receive numer- ous reports of school buses being unlawfully overtaken by motorists, says a OPP media relations officer. When a school bus is stopped driv- ers are obliged to follow these rules: 175 (11) Every driver or street car operator, when meeting on a high- way, other than a highway with a median strip, a stopped school bus that has its overhead red signal-lights flashing, shall stop before reaching the bus and shall not proceed until the bus moves or the overhead red signal-lights have stopped flashing. 175 (12) Every driver or street car operator on a highway, when approaching from the rear a stopped school bus that has its overhead red signal-lights flashing, shall stop at least twenty metres before reaching the bus and shall not proceed until the bus moves or the overhead red signal-lights have stopped flashing. Some drivers are confused about when they must stop. Overhead school bus lights are activated when the driver is about to stop. This warns drivers of the impending stop and gives them an opportunity to stop safely, much like the role of an amber traffic signal. They break the law when they pass a stopped school bus with overhead lights activated. The most common reasons for passing stopped buses seems to be inattention, excessive speed and ignorance of the law with respect to multiple lane situations, says the OPP. Whenever a school bus is passed children are placed in harms way so drivers can expect to be charged regardless of their excuse. Like- wise, if their actions ever resulted in the death of a child, an excuse would probably do little to clear their conscience! Remember, pay at- tention and watch for school buses! Fall may bring cooler temperatures, but that will never stop kids from play- ing outdoors, whether it be riding bikes, jumping in the leaves or tossing a baseball. These early eve- ning hours are a dangerous time for children. Nearly half of traffic-related child pedestrian deaths occurred after school from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. in 2001, according to the National Safe Kids Campaign. These daunting statistics are attributed to the fact that kids cant always judge speed, space and distance. Such capacities are beyond their control - these senses dont develop fully until age 10. Thats why children under 10 years old should never cross the street by themselves. Make it a point to teach kids the rules of the road. Teach them how to obey traffic signals. Tell them to stop and cross the street at corners and crosswalks, and not to enter the street from between parked cars or from behind bushes or shrubs. Tell kids to look in both directions twice before crossing the street. They should make eye contact with drivers before cross- ing the street - just because they can see a driver doesnt mean he can see them. Prohibit play in drive- ways, streets, parking lots and unfenced yards adjacent to streets. A high number of children from birth to age 2 suffer nontraffic-related pedestrian injuries in places like driveways, parking lots and sidewalks. Teaching your kids these tips can help reduce unnec- essary accidents and keep them doing what kids love to do - playing outside. The kids are Back to School Remember to stop for school buses Early evening hours are dangerous Carefree children oblivious to dangers These messages are brought by these concerned advertisers