Student drop-off safety a concern for Central Coast parents as school year begins
Some Central Coast students got a chance to officially walk the halls of their campuses for the first day of school on Wednesday.
Parents dropping off students gave their temporary goodbyes to students while also saying hello to the traffic at school zones.
What concerned them in particular was the amount of unsafe driving taking place in those very school zones their child was likely to cross through on the way to campus.
“We see a lot of craziness because we do walk,” says Jodi Delgado. Delgado is the parent of a Washington Middle School and Lincoln Elementary School student.
On this day she only had to make one trip to drop off a kid of hers, but most days she’ll do a little more walking just to make sure her kids are safe. “We parked way down and walked and didn’t cross as many streets we had to. The least streets you have to cross the better.”
While on scene, KION found parents parking in driveways near the school which didn’t belong to them, plus drivers resorting to making illegal u-turns in the middle of the street as foot and vehicle traffic was ramping up.
Meanwhile parents have also expressed concern about speeding and double parking at several locations, including Washington Middle School, Salinas High School, Harden Middle School and Lincoln Elementary School (Although Lincoln doesn’t start its first day until August 13th).
It has become routine with every school year and parents are continuing to urge drivers to be patient for the kid’s sake.
“U-Turns in crosswalks, don’t do it,” says Delgado. “If you’re late for work you’re already late for work. Take the extra time to keep our kids safe out here.”
Parents have also raised concerns about school bus drop-off safety as drivers have been witnessed disregarding flashing lights or red stop signs illuminating from school buses.
Meanwhile some, like Delgado, have found comfort in parking near the school just to walk their kid’s to side of the street their child’s school is located on.
Whether it’s the first bell or the last bell that’s ringing.
