As the sophomore class ages into their upperclassmen privileges, new student drivers are beginning to populate the parking-lot. Much like every year, the second semester is no stranger to parking pandemonium.
Many sophomores have received their licenses after completing a Drivers Education course in January. With more cars affecting the flow of traffic before and after school, many issues between the newly-licensed students and juniors and seniors who have reserved parking spots have arrived.
“[New drivers] make [the student parking lot] so crowded when I’m trying to leave,” junior Bobby Akers said. “They take up so many spots in the back.”
With everyone in a rush to get home after school or get food before practice starts, the parking lot is a challenging place for new drivers to start their journey on the roads. “It’s just hectic no matter what time you leave. You just have to pick a spot and stay at it.” For drivers of all ages, parking lots account for 20% of all vehicle crashes.
“Its just hectic no matter what time you leave,” newly licensed sophomore Ava Murphy said. “You just have to pick a spot and stay at it.”
Parking spots are a popular topic across all grade levels. Upperclassmen are allowed to purchase individual spots that they can paint and have the right to park in daily. But, some new drivers claim that they are unaware if they are accidentally taking an upperclassmen’s reserved space when spots are not painted over or customized.
”[Underclassmen] should know not to park in a spot that is painted,” senior Naz Altunkaya said. “If a spot is painted, that means that it is purchased.”
Some parents have found it easier to avoid the parking lot completely by parking on neighboring streets and choosing to pick up their students in turn lanes before the school entrance. Additionally,some parents park in other neighborhoods to wait for their students to meet them at a designated place outside of school grounds. These decisions can create even more unforeseen troubles because the main neighborhoods that parents park at intrude upon multiple bus routes, which makes traveling harder for the bus drivers, walkers, and other drivers to safely leave the parking lot.
“People need to stop getting picked up on the street,” history teacher Zachary Collins said. “People are just blocking traffic and slowing things down.”
To attempt to mitigate these troubles, students and staff believe there are some unspoken and spoken rules that will make the student parking lot easier for everyone. First, when entering the school from the main entrance on Hay Road, drivers should alternate to the best of their ability and yield to all the students crossing the street. Second, students should make sure that if they have not purchased an assigned parking spot, they should prioritize parking in an unassigned spot in the back of the parking lot to avoid any miscommunication. When drivers are leaving a parking spot, they should double check that no one is walking behind or around their car. When trying to exit the school, try to alternate with letting parents in the car line get through and letting cars come out from the parking lot exits to create one line.
“No one knows the rules of the parking lot.” said junior Hailey Trieber. “It makes it so frustrating trying to go home.”
