And by our, that means everyone in our community.

Whether we have kids ourselves or not, the hope we have for the future is heavily invested in the younger generation.

You want them to do well, to be happy and healthy and almost above everything else, safe.

We do have to take extra precautions to do the latter, especially for our youngest who simply have not yet developed the skills that are needed to find their own way in the world

And by that, the need to keep kids safe outside schools, especially primary schools, is paramount.

They just don’t have the traffic awareness that is gradually developed over their years ahead.

And let’s face it – when you’re a kid you simply want to be just that, which means running around with your friends oblivious to the dangers.

It has always made the utmost of common sense then to have reduced speed zones outside our schools.

These are a given and so we should always be on the lookout for the zones, even when it’s outside the usual operating times for the 40km/h limits before and after school.

Doing so is common sense as you couldn’t have any more likely place to come across a child (failing to pay attention) than near the local school.

But despite the efforts over so many years, there are still drivers who for whatever reason cannot get the message.

And that means one thing – near-misses outside schools that could so easily result in a terrible tragedy.

The statistics make that painfully clear. Crossing supervisors in Wodonga have reported an incredible 27 near-misses in the past 12 months.

This shouldn’t be happening, but is the unfortunate reality.

To counter this, Wodonga Council, helped by state funding, has decided to trial an electronic warning system at school crossings.

It’s a fairly straightforward idea – when a supervisor and children are on the crossing, signs and lights will warn approaching drivers.

It is a sensible move that is worth every cent thrown at it given it will help protect youngsters, and maybe even educate a driver or two.