Caution is required when navigating streets filled with distracted students and impatient drivers.

By Mary O’KEEFE

It appeared on Wednesday morning that several drivers either forgot, or simply did not realize, that most kids arrive at elementary, middle and high schools during a short window of time … from about 7:20 a.m. to 8 a.m. On a drive to Crescenta Valley High School at 7:35 a.m. on Wednesday, the traffic chaos could be seen beginning blocks away. 

A vehicle traveling north on La Crescenta Avenue then turning left, or west, onto Prospect Avenue was so intent on making the green left turn signal that the driver attempted to squeeze onto Prospect blocking both the traffic that was traveling southbound on La Crescenta and the crosswalk filled with elementary students and their parents.

Down the block, a child and someone who appeared to be his father walked across the middle of Prospect Avenue instead of crossing at the crosswalk. They walked in front of several vehicles traveling both east and west. Horns were aggressively used as drivers stopped in traffic lanes to drop their child off so he/she could run across the street dodging vehicles along the way.

Then at the four-way stop at Community and Glenwood avenues, a student started walking southbound in the crosswalk then decided to cut diagonally in front of several cars.

And this was only the first day of school.

The crosswalks have long been a discussion among school administrators, California Highway Patrol officers and community members. Students will cut across the middle of the street to get to and from the high school.

“One student will walk across at a time, causing the cars to back up, then another student crosses instead of them walking in groups,” CHP Officer Phil Cooper said in an earlier interview with CVW.

The crosswalks are not used by just high school students but also by grade school children who attend nearby La Crescenta Elementary School. There has been a safety committee formed to discuss and take action regarding this area. A traffic study has shown that suggestions, like having a crossing guard, are not needed; however, that finding is being disputed by the committee.

Rosemont Middle School has traditionally been a traffic nightmare as well with drivers allowing students to get out of their vehicle before reaching a safe crossing area, and then drivers making illegal U-turns.

“I think people don’t give themselves enough time,” Cooper said as the reasoning behind the poor habits.

CHP can be seen in force especially during the first few weeks of school. At first they try to educate drivers who they witness violating the law but in the near future education will shift to citation.

Although a majority of students at Clark Magnet High School arrive and depart on buses there are still some traffic regulations that are ignored. This school seems to have most of its issues under control with the help of school administrators and crossing and security guards. Drivers still need to be aware that students are in the area and to proceed with caution.

All elementary schools within the Glendale Unified School District have a specific drop-off and pick-up area. They are clearly marked and many have volunteers who oversee the process.

The most important thing drivers can do is to give themselves enough time, make certain there are no distractions while driving and review the specific drop-off/pick-up procedures of the school their children are attending.

  Mary Okeefe