It Only Takes a Fraction of a Second

It only takes a fraction of a second for life to change forever. A quick distraction — glancing at a text, adjusting the radio, turning around to speak to your child — and it can be too late.

In school zones, there is no such thing as a “small” distraction. Children can appear from between parked cars without warning. A crossing guard may step out unexpectedly. A group of students might be running, laughing, and not paying attention to traffic. These are not rare events — they happen every day.

That’s why speed limits in school zones are low. They’re not suggestions; they are lifesaving boundaries. Driving just a few miles per hour faster means you’ll travel dozens of extra feet before you can stop — and in that space, a tragedy can happen.

Slow down. Stay fully attentive. Don’t touch your phone. Don’t even look at it. Every notification can wait. Every message can wait. What cannot wait is a child’s safety.

When you enter a school zone, make the choice to give 100% of your attention to the road. Because in that fraction of a second when life can change, you want to be the ready driver, not the one who wishes they had been.