When the final bell of the day rings at Parkland High School, 3,200 students exit the high school. Among them, the licensed drivers make a mad dash for the parking lot in an effort to beat the traffic, rendering the parking lot a scene of chaos.
It seems like the traffic at the high school is inevitable, but is there any way to avoid it? When the new construction at the high school commences, the traffic will be even more congested, but when it is complete, there will be additional parking spaces and an extended bus loop that should improve our school parking. It will be interesting to see if these additions will help reduce the traffic before and after the school day.
One of the most important things when navigating the parking lot and school roads is patience. Parkland Driver’s Ed Teacher, Mr. Ott, said, “It is important for everyone to take their time and be patient in our school parking lot, especially during the morning arrival and afternoon departure. That includes everyone: student drivers, parents, faculty and staff, and bus drivers.” Leaving home early will give student drivers extra time and prevent them from rushing and making poor decisions. Even if running late to school, don’t rush!
The other key thing is limiting distractions. Some distractions to student drivers can be passengers or blaring music, but it is no secret that one of the biggest distractions while driving is the phone. Mr. Ott shared with The Trumpet staff that, according to PennDOT data, in 2024, there were 9,950 crashes involving a distracted driver, resulting in more than 6,000 injuries and 49 fatalities. He also added that if a driver is struggling to resist the urge to go on his/her phone while driving, silencing notifications or placing the phone on “Do Not Disturb” is the best way to combat that.
The school parking lot may seem chaotic and stressful, but it is important for adults and students to use caution at all times. It takes everyone’s effort to ensure that our school is a safe environment in and outside the building. Drive safe, Parkland!
