I almost received a speeding ticket today. Considering I was driving 35 mph in a 25 zone, it would have been well deserved. Thankfully, the police officer let me off with a warning. His comment irritated me though. He said "School is back in session, so slow down." It was 9:30 in the morning, and all the schools here start by 8:30. I was also over a mile away from the nearest school. There was no possible way that my speed was endangering any school child, even though it was against the law.

Last weekend, I noticed large "Slow Down, school is back in session" signs on the highway, and it's been in the news too. I find this to be a rather silly driving safety campaign. School being in session means that school-aged children are safely ensconced in classrooms for the bulk of the day. Granted people need to be careful in school zones and during the before/after walk home, but for the most part the children are safer than they were all summer long while they were riding bikes, playing outside and walking to the public library.

It seems to me that a more logical public safety campaign would take place in June and be "School is out of session. Drive carefully."