On the second day of this new school year, an elementary school student in Fayette County was struck by a motorist as he dashed across the street after getting off a school bus.

Child vs. vehicle collisions in Fayette County are still fairly rare, according to the Sheriff's Department, but they still happen.

“Nothing stops a public safety professional's heart faster than hearing that a child has been hit by a car,” said Sheriff Randall Johnson.

Every school year such tragic stories are heard across the state, and they are becoming more and more frequent, while the public safety community struggles to solve the problem.

Children are usually pretty excited about getting home on the school bus at the end of a long school day. Often, the last thing on their minds is safety — especially crossing the street, which is where the danger lies, as children are on the roadways amid cars with drivers trying to go about their daily tasks.

“Our first responsibility as adults and parents is to take care of our children,” said Johnson, adding that parents need to talk to their children about the dangers of being pedestrians on the streets, how being hit by a car can hurt or even kill.

Major Wayne Hannah, director of traffic enforcement for the Sheriff's Department, makes it easy for motorists.

“If you see a school bus, see danger. Assume that if you're near a school bus, that bus has just dropped off its riders,” he said. “Be alert and slow down. Children are unpredictable, often very quick, and hard to spot.

“If you see a child near the road, take your foot off the gas and cover the brake. Try to get eye contact with the child. If they don't seem to see you, honk your horn — that'll get their attention. Above all else, be prepared to stop or avoid the child.”

The Sheriff's Department is reminding everyone in a recent statement that “children are our most precious resource; let's work together to protect them.”

“Rest assured,” said Johnson. “We'll be doing our part. Please do yours, and if you see someone driving recklessly or children playing dangerously near the road, call us and help us help the kids.”