Parent drivers also should practice traffic safety

We hear much this time of year telling drivers to be more careful because schools are back in session. Children, of course, are one of our most previous commodities, and all of us need to drive at our most cautious and attentive around schools. This also includes parents dropping off and picking up their children from school.In my hometown of Springfield I see many Caldwell School parents ignoring yellow lines on curbs designed to keep cars from parking too close to intersections where children are crossing. Also, some parents either double park where there are yellow-painted curbs or open their car doors in the way of incoming traffic or don’t caution their children from running near traffic or opening their car doors near traffic.Also, near the Florence Gaudineer Middle School I have seen parents’ cars lining up into traffic lanes or darting into traffic when picking up or dropping off students. This not only endangers students and parents, it also endangers motorists passing the school.In nearby Short Hills, through which I drive on my way to my job in Roseland, on more than one occasion during the last two school years I been cut off by drivers making a left from Hartshorn Drive onto White Oak Ridge Road, either totally ignoring the stop sign at the intersection or pausing way less time than the full stop required by law.It is the obligation of all drivers, including all parents, to keep all children safe. I hope law enforcement is stepped up in these areas, because “self-enforcement” doesn’t seem to be working.