A hair-raising video of a near miss involving a young student has taken the internet by storm this week. The incident, which occurred last month, features a ten-year-old named Lily Thompson who, after stepping off her school bus, hesitated before crossing the street. While there were several missteps during this event, the most crucial lesson is clear: drivers must slow down in school zones and around school buses.
On September 29th, Lily was caught on camera nearly getting struck by a vehicle. A clip of the incident has gone viral, showcasing just how quickly things can go wrong. CTV News Toronto has more comprehensive footage from a nearby security camera that documents the entire sequence of events. After getting off the bus, Lily was chatting with friends and missed crossing when most of the other kids had. The bus driver retracted the stop sign but, without checking, waved her to cross. Just then, a car zoomed around the bus and came dangerously close to hitting her.
It’s clear that several mistakes were made here. The bus driver should have kept the stop sign up until all children had crossed safely and certainly shouldn’t have waved Lily into the street without looking. Lily also should have been more vigilant before stepping off the curb. But the biggest issue? The car should have slowed down when approaching a school bus that was discharging students.
Let’s be real here—while all parties share some blame, only one was behind the wheel of a potentially lethal machine. In school zones, and especially near school buses, it’s essential to slow down.
Interestingly, no charges were filed in this incident because no laws were technically broken. According to police interviews, the driver passed the bus only after the lights had stopped flashing, which is legal. This occurred in Canada, and while laws may vary in the U.S., just because the stop sign is pulled in doesn’t mean the coast is clear. Seriously, is the minute you save by speeding really worth risking a child’s life?
People sometimes forget how dangerous their vehicles can be—it’s like driving a weapon. Witnessing drivers fly through my child’s school zone daily is infuriating. On average, 44 children are hit by vehicles every day, many while on their way to school. The speed limit in school zones, like the 15 MPH around my son’s school, exists for a reason: a child’s life is far more valuable than your need for speed.
For more information on similar topics, check out our other blog posts on the importance of safety in school zones here. And if you’re looking for resources on home insemination, CryoBaby offers some great kits. Additionally, the NHS has excellent resources for pregnancy-related services.
In summary, this alarming incident serves as a reminder for all drivers to exercise extreme caution in school zones. It doesn’t matter who is at fault—what matters is the safety of our children.