On August 13, a school bus in Clay County, Florida, was stopped along its morning route. Its warning lights were flashing and the stop arm was out when authorities say an SUV approaching from behind failed to slow down or stop. The vehicle went onto the shoulder before coming back into the lane and hitting the rear of the bus. Thankfully, no students were injured.
And thankfully really is the word that stayed with me when I read about it, because we all know how differently that story could have ended. Someone packed those kids’ lunches that morning, reminded them to grab their backpacks, and probably called out, “Hurry up! You’re going to miss the bus!” 😊 Someone expected those kids to come home at the end of the day. Thankfully, that’s exactly what happened.
As a mom, a grandma, and someone who has spent nearly 25 years talking about safety, that’s where my mind goes. I don’t just see a school bus or another traffic story. I think about the people on that bus and all the people who love them. That’s what makes a safety decision so much bigger than the few seconds it takes to make it.
The Road Didn’t Change. The Conditions Did.
Back-to-school season changes our roads almost overnight. Yellow buses are back, kids are walking and biking to school, crosswalks are busier, and parents are rushing through morning drop-off. You may still be driving the exact same road you’ve driven hundreds of times, but suddenly there are things happening around you that weren’t there a few weeks ago.
That’s why familiarity can sometimes work against us. We get comfortable, we know the route, and before we realize it, we’re driving on autopilot because we think we already know what’s coming. The same thing happens at work, doesn’t it? We’ve done something so many times that we start believing the next time will be exactly like the last.
And that’s often when those little “I’ll just…” decisions creep in.
“I’ll just check this text really quickly.”
“I’ll just make this light.”
“I’ll just go around.”
“I’m already late.”
Nobody gets behind the wheel in the morning thinking, “I’m going to do something dangerous today.” Most unsafe decisions don’t feel that big when we’re making them. In fact, most of the time nothing happens, which can make it even easier to do the same thing again. Until the one time something does.
We already know we’re supposed to slow down. We know we’re supposed to put the phone away, and we certainly know what flashing lights and a stop arm on a school bus mean. Knowing usually isn’t the problem. The real test comes when doing what we know is right becomes inconvenient—when we’re late, distracted, frustrated, or convinced that saving a few seconds somehow matters more in that moment.
That’s when we decide whether ease or ego gets to win over safety.
Everybody on That Road Is Somebody’s Person
I talk a lot about remembering the people waiting for you at home, but when we’re behind the wheel, I think we need to turn that around, too. The people around us have someone waiting for them. That child getting off the school bus, the teenager driving to school, and the road worker standing just a few feet from moving traffic all mean the world to somebody.
And yes, even the driver who just irritated the heck out of you is somebody’s person. 😊
We share the road with strangers every day, but they’re only strangers to us. To somebody else, they’re everything. When you start looking at the people around you that way, slowing down doesn’t feel quite as inconvenient. Waiting for the bus doesn’t feel like such a big deal, and whatever is happening on your phone can wait a little longer.
The children on that school bus in Florida got to go home that day, and I’m grateful I get to write that sentence. Not every family gets that ending. So as the kids head back to school and our roads get busy again, take the extra few seconds. Put the phone down, slow down, look twice, and pay attention to what’s changed around you.
Not simply because you know the rules.
Because everybody on that road is somebody’s person.
The next time you see the flashing lights, a school-zone sign, or a kid waiting at the corner, don’t just think about what you’re supposed to do. Think about the person standing there and the person waiting for them at home. Then make the choice that helps them get there.
That’s when safety moves from your head to your heart. 💛
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