Just don't do it!

We have a serious problem brewing in Eastern Laramie County, and if we are not careful someone will get hurt ... or worse.

Of late, there have been several reports at Pine Bluffs and Burns concerning people driving around school buses stopped to let children off at the school. Even one instance is just inexcusable.

We are sure you have heard of the woman in Ohio who drove up on the sidewalk multiple times at a school to avoid having to stop while a bus picked up children from school. The judge in the case provided an interesting sentence — the woman got to stand on the sidewalk with a sign declaring, “Only an idiot drives on the sidewalk to avoid a school bus.” In truth, you can’t be using all your brains to pass a bus on the street either.

We know this risks offending some folks out there, but frankly we would rather offend than publish the obituary of one of our community’s precious children. Their lives are worth far more than the extra few minutes it takes to wait for children to board or disembark from a bus.

For those who think the absense of a police office ensures safe passage around a bus with its yellow or red lights one — think again! Our buses are equipped with cameras. It tells the officers what color the light was when you passed that bus. And that is in addition to the ever-watchful eyes of our bus drivers. They are entrusted with the safe conveyance of our children. Please rest assured they will not let you get away with breaking this very valuable law.

The simple solution is to allow yourself additional time to reach your destination, or find another route if you don’t need to drive by the school zone. If you are dropping off or picking up your child and are tempted to scoot around that bus — don’t do it! The life you save may be your own child’s someday.

The few minutes you wait will save a lot — a life, injury, money not spent on a ticket. The price is too costly an no idiotic excuse for breaking the law is good enough.