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6 ·The IFP· Halton Hills ·Thursday, August 30, 2012 OPINION Use caution September is almost here, and children will be returning to school in force. That means we all have a responsibility to be a little more watchful on the roads. This is particularly important at times of day when children are more likely to be outside of the school -- including when school begins, lunchtime and after school. Here are important safety tips, provided by InsuranceHotline.com, to keep in mind when driving on or around school property this fall. · Always stop for a school bus when the lights are flashing. In Ontario alone, more than 800,000 children travel by school bus every day. Children have a limited sense of danger and are often excited and energetic when getting on or off a school bus. Watch for children who may dart out from between stopped school buses or parked cars. Failing to stop for a school bus carries a fine of up to $2,000 and six demerit points. · Observe the posted speed limits. It's important to slow down as you approach a school zone and watch for children who may run out into harm's way. Posted speed limits in school zones are typically either 30 km/h or 40 km/h. Travelling at a slower speed gives drivers time to stop safely in case there are children crossing the road unexpectedly. Respect your school's posted pick up and drop off areas to avoid creating unnecessary traffic congestion and unsafe conditions. · Obey the crossing guard at all times. Whether you think they're right or not, obey crossing guards at all times. Children expect that crossing guards will only allow them to cross if the situation is safe, so disregarding a crossing guard's instructions can have serious consequences. · Don't pass other vehicles in a school zone. This is a dangerous practice that's prohibited in school zones. When passing other vehicles, you may be travelling quickly and your overall visibility is reduced. Children crossing the street won't expect you to be passing and won't be prepared for your car being in a different lane than usual. 905-873-0301 Publisher: Ken Nugent General manager: Steve Foreman (sforeman@theifp.ca) Retail advertising manager: Cindi Campbell (ccampbell@theifp.ca) Managing editor: John McGhie (jmcghie@theifp.ca) Distribution manager: Nancy Geissler (ngeissler@theifp.ca) Classifieds Kristie Pells (classified@theifp.ca) Accounting Rose Marie Gauthier Editorial Cynthia Gamble: News editor (cgamble@theifp.ca) Ted Brown: Photography (tbrown@theifp.ca) Lisa Tallyn: Staff writer (ltallyn@theifp.ca) Eamonn Maher: Staff writer/sports (emaher@theifp.ca) Letters policy Letters must include an address and daytime phone number. Anonymous letters will not be published. Letters should not exceed 150 words and may be edited for content and/or length. Publication is not guaranteed. Email: jmcghie@theifp.ca Steve Nease Mail or drop off: Independent & Free Press, 280 Guelph St., Unit 29, Georgetown, ON., L7G 4B1. Letters to the editor Residents urged to fight mining sprawl Dear editor, Calling all citizens of Acton and Halton Hills! The revised version of Dufferin/ Holcim's expansion plan for the Acton Quarry is now available online on the NEC website at http://tinyurl. com/8g9rnyt. Please see PH 180. While this proposal has been reduced in size, the impact on the local area is yet to be known. We all know and love the unique nature of our community, nestled on the Niagara Escarpment. Industrial use of this land may have many ramifications for future generations. The Acton Quarry has been home to a variety of mining companies over the years, each with their own plans. At one time it was even proposed to turn the then-mined out quarry into a garbage dump! After a long fight, that proposal was stopped and the community heaved a sigh of relief. Each new expansion proposal brings with it a termination date as to when the quarrying will end. Each time an end is in sight, a new expansion is put in the works. How long can we let this go on? Do we wait until the pit stretches from the boundary of Acton to the bottom of the Escarpment? The Milton Quarry, also owned by Dufferin, is a good example of this mining sprawl. Is this what we want for our community? It takes a strong united front to prevent a mega quarry on our doorstep. Get involved. Let your voice be heard by sending your comments to the Niagara Escarpment Commission and the Town of Halton Hills. Contact your councillor; talk to the mayor! Circle the date on your calendar and come out to the public meeting to be held on Monday, September 24. Christine Rumley, Acton cut from our local schools? How will this impact on our children's education? It seems that the quality of education is simply not a priority in Halton. Louise Vonghia, Georgetown What's up, Hydro? Dear editor, With regard to the August 21 article about the stop lights at Ninth Line and Five Sideroad being taken down by a truck, can I ask why are they still not functioning a week later? "Halton Hills Hydro is on scene and the intersection is closed while the hydro line and lights are re-installed" the article read. So why have I seen no evidence of anyone out there even clearing the debris, let alone trying to fix the lights? I take this route to work both morning and evening, as does my husband. I guess if a situation like this can happen at a good time, it did, as the volume of traffic has been lighter with people on summer vacation and no school buses on the road. It will be traffic chaos this time next week with a lot of frustrated drivers if the lights aren't re-installed before Labour Day weekend. So, what's up Halton Hills Hydro? Louann Nicholson, Georgetown WEB POLL RESULTS (Go to www.theifp.ca) Many minor sports groups do not keep scores for games involving younger players so as not to emphasize winning and losing. Do you think scores should be kept? · Yes. Kids can handle keeping score...win or lose (82%) · No. Keeping score makes it less fun for kids (18%) Costly pay hikes Dear editor, In your August 14 editorial, you suggested that, "if the Province can't find ways to curb rising education costs through contract negotiations, it will be forced to remove the money from programs." It seems that our local school board will be leading the way as they have decided to move our teachers up the salary grid despite the fact that the province will not be covering this $750,000 per month expense. So where will this money come from? What programs and services will be The Independent & Free Press The Independent & Free Press is published Tuesday and Thursday and is one of several Metroland Media Group Ltd. community newspapers. Editorial and advertising content of The Independent & Free Press is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited.