There is a new law taking effect in New York to protect our children on their way to school.

This story was just told to me today, but already it’s very dear to my heart.

last September, a little girl named Elle was on her way to preschool when she was hit by a driver who had illegally back through an intersection in search of a parking space. Elle spent weeks in a coma, had a stroke and lost most of the left side of her brain. The driver only received a slap on the wrist – a minor traffic ticket. Elle was three and a half at the time and doctors prepared her mother for the worst.

Elle has made a miraculous recovery and will be returning to school this fall, but many children have not been as lucky. The summer is long and drivers often forget that come fall, the streets will once again swarm with children heading to and from school. When a traffic accident involves a child, it is a tragedy that affects the entire family and its community. Unfortunately, in the majority of states in the US, there are no laws in place to deal with reckless drivers who are not under the influence of alcohol who harm pedestrians. New York, where Elle was struck, is one of those states. Because the driver who hit Elle was not drunk, he would not be punished beyond a minor traffic ticket. Elle’s mother was told that the only thing she could do is sue him.

Elle’s mother, Heather Vandenberghe, took a different approach.   Instead of suing that one driver and receiving only limited compensation for a life that is priceless, Heather decided to take action to protect other children from being the victims of careless drivers and pushed through legislation that would create harsher penalties for reckless driving.

Friday Aug. 13 Gov. Paterson signed Elle’s Law into law. Under the new law any driver who causes physical harm to a another person will lose their license up to a year.

**I think it should be so much more. This story means so much,because I was hit by a car at the age of 9, and just like Elle I had a stroke lost control of my left side and even broke bones and suffered head injuries. In the state of AZ the guy who hit me didn’t even get a ticket, it was my fault, that I didn’t stop in the road, according to police.  So much more needs to be done to those who are irresponsible drivers.

Please talk with your children about being safe while walking to school.