By Mary O’KEEFE

School has been back in session for a few weeks and traffic is back to its chaotic normal in the Crescenta Valley, with a little more chaos added with the construction on the Foothill (210) Freeway.

Every elementary school, as well as Rosemont Middle School, has a designated drop-off area for students. At the elementary schools, there are also crossing guards and, usually, volunteers who help kids get out of parents’ cars and onto the sidewalk safely. It seems like a simple and organized method in theory; however, once the human factor is added things become complicated.

“I think people don’t give themselves enough time,” said California Highway Patrol Officer Cooper.

Cooper can normally be found astride a CHP motorcycle, but recently CVW accompanied him in a patrol unit for a “ride along” and, for the most part when drivers saw CHP, they followed the traffic signs. But there were still those who made U-turns in the middle of the roadway, stopped within the crosswalk near schools and let their children out of their vehicle in the middle of traffic instead of at designated areas.

“This happens especially at Rosemont,” Cooper said.

The morning northbound traffic is congested on Rosemont Avenue. There are signs restricting making a left turn into the Rosemont Middle School driveway between the hours of 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. and again from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.  The traffic line is often long and, if the student is late, parents seem to think it is okay to allow their student to get out of their northbound traveling vehicle on Rosemont Avenue to run across the street toward the school. The problem, beyond the fact there is no crosswalks or even sidewalks on the east side of Rosemont Avenue, is the child now has to dart between the vehicles that are on the roadway moving north and be cautious of the traffic traveling southbound on Rosemont.

While on the ride along, Cooper witnessed a parent dropping his/her child off in this manner and stopped traffic so the student had a safer crossing; but a CHP officer will not always be there.

“The first week [or so], I talk to the drivers … I try to educate them,” Cooper said.

Recently CHP adopted a written warning system. In the past, Cooper and other officers would speak to the driver/parents and let them know what they did wrong, giving them the benefit of the doubt. Now they have written warnings that include information on traffic safety and laws.

“It does [appear] to mean more if the driver is given something in writing,” Cooper said. “It is not just about giving out citations; I want to educate the [drivers].”

Cooper reminds drivers to give themselves enough time, especially in the morning when dropping off their students, and know the drop-off areas as well as the traffic restrictions.

Students, too, need to be aware of the traffic around them. This is especially important at Crescenta Valley High School where there are no crossing guards and parents often drop-off students in red zones.

Officer Cooper and CHP officers will continue to patrol during the morning and afternoon traffic and although educating drivers is key for the officers, there is always a citation option for those who disregard traffic laws. 

  Mary Okeefe