At approx 3:20 today a boy riding one of those small scooters crossed between Boss and the Montana Made store heading west. He neither obeyed the crosswalk sign or even looked. A van crossing with a green light from the Courthouse over to Boss was lucky to not hit him. Even the boy travelling with him riding a regular bicycle yelled to him " why did you do that? I would of been a witness for the van driver,luckily he was alert enough to stop. School has just started, parents please talk road safety to your children.

Perhaps it would be more helpful to go to the police department and ask for an officer to perhaps be there during that time period. It might save a child's life.

There is not enough police in this town to watch out for all the kids like this. Every day they are walking down the middle of the streets, flying through un-controlled intersections, just a few examples. We are blessed to live in a relatively safe community, but the adults need to watch out for the kids also. Everyone just slow down and look both ways at the un-controlled intersections, slow down in the speed zones (remember they are all 15 mph 24/7/365). Worry more about being safe than getting somewhere a few minutes earlier. And, if you tailgate me, I will go even slower!! These kiddos have not developed good decision making abilities yet

And put down your D*MNED phone and drive! Watching someone weave down the street as if drunk because they are too involved in their texting when I live one block from Lincoln and one block from the high school is TERRIFYING. Your stupid text is NOT worth the life of a child.

It's not only the uncontrolled intersections where you need to watch for the kiddos. Every intersection has the possibility of a child being in it going to or from school. That was the point of the original post. AS for not having enough police officers, get some parent volunteers out on the busy streets. I'm sure there are many who would volunteer.

All the issues that have been cited ARE relevant. It appears the crux of ALL of them is a LACK of respect, training and/or enforcement.

Many individuals display a lack of respect for vehicle traffic - walking out into a street or intersection WITHOUT looking, WHILE texting and some even display utter disdain for vehicles, almost daring the driver to 'Hit me'!

Many students display a lack of the laws not only for the vehicles they drive, but also the laws concerning bicycles. Bicycle riders ARE under the same traffic laws as motor vehicles!

And, the local officers COULD make a regular appearance in the various school zones - no, they can't patrol EVERY campus EVERY morning or afternoon; however, they CAN make patrols at the school zones SOMETIME during the week during these pick-up and drop-off times. They could begin with the High School and with Washington Middle School. The MC police could even ask the highway patrols and the county under-sheriffs for help in patrolling.

Miles City police do watch intersections near schools. They have an officer who is assigned to schools full time. The problem is and always likely to be young kids in their teens and early 20s feel they are immortal. They have so little experience with death they feel they are immune. That is why nations have always used them as soldiers. Feeling they can not die lets them charge into battle unafraid of death. The cure when I was young was to draft them into the army and send them to Viet Nam. Seeing school mates coming home in a box brings a scene of reality fairly quickly.

Middle schoolers make excellent speed bumps.

Taken straight from the DMV of MT website:

PEDESTRIANS
Drivers must be alert and watch for pedestrians.
Yield the right of way even when pedestrians are crossing in the wrong place.
LOOK out for people walking.
People will:
WALK while intoxicated.
CROSS between parked cars.
CROSS against a signal light.
CROSS between intersections.
FAIL to watch traffic.
PLAY in the street.
WALK diagonally across an intersection.
WALK in the street.
BE PREPARED TO STOP QUICKLY.

PEDESTRIANS ALWAYS HAVE THE RIGHT OF WAY, so even if you think they are "daring" you to hit them, YOU are the one at fault, not them.

I'm skeptical that a motorist would be at fault if a pedestrian is hit while crossing against a traffic signal or "jay walking".

Pedestrians crossing at marked or unmarked crosswalks and in compliance with any traffic control device (i.e. they have a walk signal) almost certainly have the right of way.

Having said that, I am a firm believer that in a battle between a pedestrian and a motor vehicle the pedestrian always loses; therefore, the pedestrian has the greatest incentive to watch out for motor vehicles regardless of fault. I also believe a pedestrian is much better suited to spot an oncoming car than a driver is to spot a pedestrian. Pedestrians hear approaching cars, drivers do not hear pedestrians.

Teach your kids to always assume that a car will not stop for them. If they have not made eye contact with the driver of the vehicle then they should keep clear and let the vehicle go by before crossing the street.

MCA

61-8-503. Crossing at other than crosswalks. (1) Every pedestrian crossing a roadway at any point other than within a marked crosswalk or within an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles upon the roadway.
(2) Any pedestrian crossing a roadway at a point where a pedestrian tunnel or overhead pedestrian crossing has been provided shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles upon the roadway.
(3) Between adjacent intersections at which traffic control signals are in operation pedestrians shall not cross at any place except in a marked crosswalk.

David, I absolutely agree with you. Kids need to be sure the driver of a vehicle sees them. If they don't see their eyes on them, they need to not walk in front of the car. That is something I taught my kids from first grade.

And yes, I agree also that pedestrians generally lose against a vehicle. I see lots of posts about crossing other than at the crosswalk. It sounds like that is what this child did.

I will go back to the fact that each child is different. Each parent should know their child's specific tendencies...such as running across the street without looking. If that is what happened the child is lucky to be ok and the parent truly needs to be in better control of the child. I don't care how careful a driver you are, if someone darts out in front of you it can be impossible to see them in time.

Again, everyone was lucky it turned out so well. Hopefully now things will be addressed with the children walking to school so nothing bad happens. Personally I drive about 5 mph around every school when there are kids out and about. Better safe than sorry.