The school parking lot is the most dangerous place for teens, faculty, and parents of high school students. The seemingly commonplace location where we all have driven to or parked at can be a hotspot for dangers, especially for teen drivers.
Two weeks after my sixteenth birthday, I drove to school for the first time on my own. I was so excited to finally have the freedom to drive to and from school without the supervision of my mom. But, my experience was nothing like I imagined. While leaving school, hundreds of kids and cars congested the asphalt and poorly designed roads. Cars were everywhere — parents were in a rush to leave, buses were eager to escape, and most of all students wanted to get home as fast as possible. It was a nightmare. Having only had my license for a few days, I was frightened by the possibility of a fender bender, or even worse a serious collision. I was stuck in my parking spot, with the inability to move due to the many pedestrians and the cars lined up behind me, bumper to bumper. The limited space in the parking lot made me realize that I would have to wait at least a half-hour before I could even think of getting home. As much as I wanted to leave, I knew waiting was the best idea in the interest of my safety and those around me.
Teen drivers are often distracted and inexperienced, which makes school parking lots very unsafe. While most drivers can pass the basic elements of a driving tests, there is so much to judge in the real world — tight spaces, dealing with angry drivers, parallel parking, distances — to truly be safe on the roads. Additionally, teens, who are often glued to their phones, may sometimes have trouble detaching when driving. Texts, social media notifications, calls, and fiddling with music controls can all be dangerous distractions. Students must stay focused when in the school zone, and even on other roads, especially when their life is at stake. Besides putting their phones down, or even better locked in their console, student drivers should abide by speed limits and follow road signs to ensure mutual safety.
Drivers, however, are not the only ones who should be held responsible for safety in school zones. Schools should work to include increased road signs, speed bumps, and resource officers to look out for their drivers. Because speeding can be a huge issue across the board, especially with the rush to get in and out of school, speed bumps can be a great way to protect drivers and pedestrians. Additionally, slogans taken from SADD programs — Textless Live More, Rock The Belt, U R The Key — can all be helpful in increasing awareness of these pressing issues.
And remember that being in control of a car leaves you responsible for your life and the lives of the people around you.
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It’s time for student drivers and schools to prioritize safety while driving. You can be that advocate, that driving force in your school district or community. Talk to your SADD State Representative for ideas, or connect with the National SLC to think about some options for how you could bring student voices to this issue!
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