It's a good time of the year for the state Department of Transportation and Butler County municipal officials to look up - look up at the trees along the roadways for which they are responsible.

Are there decayed trees that are in danger of falling across roadways, damaging vehicles or possibly injuring or killing motorists? Are there large, healthy trees growing precariously on embankments that seem destined to give way and send a tree or trees crashing down?

Are utility lines in danger of being downed by decayed or otherwise weakened trees?

The possible scenarios are many. In some places the near-term danger is real - and a windstorm might not be necessary for the destructive forces of decay to take their toll.

With no leaves on the trees, this is a good opportunity for officials to ascertain if and where danger lurks.

It's not a minor issue. In November 2003 in Fulton County, a father and son were killed when a tree fell on their vehicle. Later that month, on Route 308 in Venango Township, northern Butler County, a car and truck were damaged as the result of a large, decayed tree falling across the roadway.

In December 2003, the Mars School District was in the news as it prepared for the removal of two stands of trees, one behind Adams Elementary School and the other, behind the baseball field at Mars Middle School. District officials said at the time that some of the trees were in such bad condition that they could fall at any time.

Such is the case along some Butler area roadways, including Glenwood Way and Mercer Road near Butler Memorial Park.

Route 308 in the county's northern sector still has numerous trees that merit close scrutiny.

Along Glenwood Way is a large tree that leans menacingly over the roadway, awaiting the day when its top weight is too much for its roots to support. A large tree near it fell a few months ago during a storm. The tree in question might not need a storm someday to cause it to crash down.

It won't necessarily wait until no vehicle is nearby.

Trees are beautiful. No mass removal along roadways is necessary.

But where danger is obvious, the situation should be addressed.

Highway deaths or injuries due to falling trees aren't common, but the frequency of such occurrences shouldn't be a factor in delaying removal of obvious danger.

It's better to address a potential danger than deal with the aftermath of tragedy.