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The books have been turned in, the caps thrown in the air and the kids are free for the summer.

It’s an exciting thing leaving the daily confines of school and dipping into the routine of summer — that being there is no routine in summer.

We’re all going to look for ways to be outside, enjoying what the season has to offer and in particular, you’re going to see more kids roaming about town looking for diversion, heading to the local fishing hole or taking a dip in the Austin Municipal Pool, which is now open.

We certainly don’t want to diminish the idea of having fun this summer, but it does come with some responsibilities.

With more children out and about, it’s important that as drivers we keep an extra eye out for kids walking down the street, playing in yards or taking the longboard out for a spin. It’s an age old adage, and even a little cliche at this point, but nevertheless it’s true. It only takes a singular moment to alter a life forever.

It can happen in a moment. Children darting out into traffic to chase a ball or follow a pet without looking.

However, that point also stresses the importance of parents speaking to their children about safety on their own. Take the time to look both ways and be cognizant of your surroundings.

And as we’ve said before, maybe put the phone away for a little bit. Of course it’s an important piece of technology and it helps parents stay in contact with their children. At the same time, we’ve seen all too often children riding their bikes or walking down the street, heads down on their phones and not paying attention to the environment.

We want this summer to be fun for everyone, but we can’t be doing it at the expense of not being aware of our surroundings. We want this summer to be memorable, not tragic.