Every day, my children and their friends face a game of risk as they attempt to cross Moffet Rd. on their walk to Virginia Parks Elementary School. Families parking around Payne, Moffet, or on Riverview Ct. and walking their children to school face similar peril.

Our concern? Cars speeding down Moffet Rd. show little regard for the safety of our children. The speed and volume of traffic make it extremely difficult for pedestrians, especially young children, to cross safely. We live in fear that our worst nightmare will become a reality - that a child will be seriously injured due to a driver's negligence and unwillingness to slow down in a school zone.

We believe that the installation of a Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon (RRFB) crosswalk on the north side of the school could mitigate this danger. These devices, which alert drivers to the presence of pedestrians with rapidly blinking lights, have been shown to increase driver yielding to pedestrians from 18% to 88% - nearly a fivefold increase (source: Federal Highway Administration).

In dawn's early light, a child’s life should not rest on a driver's fleeting attention. Let's protect our children. We urge local authorities to act now and install a Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon crosswalk on the north side of Virginia Parks Elementary School.

Don't let our fear become a reality; please add your signature to support this vital change.