NATCHEZ &045;&045; Danielle Johnson has no doubt about it &045;&045; her daughter, Brennika Minor, is one of the lucky ones.

When the 8-year-old’s bicycle was hit from behind by a speeding truck on Madison Street, throwing her onto the pavement, &uot;she had facial injuries and cracked teeth, but no broken bones, thank the Lord,&uot; Johnson said. &uot;But what’s sad about it is, the driver didn’t even stop.&uot;

At the same time, she worries about those who might not be so lucky.

But according to local officials, the city is taking a two-prong approach to slowing traffic down &045;&045; and, hopefully, saving lives and property in the process.

The city’s Public Works Department is investigating the feasibility and cost of temporary speed bumps that could be moved to different areas as needed, said David Massey, chairman of the Board of Aldermen’s Public Works Committee.

That’s because installing a permanent speed hump costs about $1,000. &uot;The first round of speed humps cost about $17,000, and the next about the same,&uot; Massey said. &uot;And we’re strapped for cash.&uot;

Massey said he hopes to get figures on the cost of temporary speed bumps before work session start in the next few days to draw up the city budget for the next fiscal year, which starts Oct. 1.

&uot;Children at play&uot; signs are currently out of favor with traffic control experts. They say the signs make local governments legally vulnerable, since the signs imply governments condone children playing in the street.

But Massey said the city is investigating ways to &uot;cut through the red tape&uot; to get such signs installed. &uot;Something that says, ‘We love our children &045;&045; don’t run over them,’&uot; Massey said.

That’s exactly the type of thing Johnson said she would like to see happen in the Maple/Madison Street neighborhood.

After all, her young cousin was also hit by a car in that neighborhood just before Minor’s accident and had to undergo major surgery for his foot.

&uot;It’s a sad thing,&uot; Johnson said. &uot;And there’s a lot I’d like to see done.&uot;