In 2022, nearly three thousand teenagers ages 13 to 19 died in motor vehicle crashes. Many of these accidents occurred in the daily struggle of traffic going to and from school. Here at Willow Glen High School, there are innumerable accounts of reckless driving, whether it be parents speeding to drop their children off before the bell, or students crossing the street erratically to leave campus as fast as possible. Regardless of the context, reckless driving and speeding pose an impending issue at our school that cannot be fixed without the help of parents, students, staff, and the neighboring community.
Campus supervisor George Flores accounts that he has seen many instances of reckless driving around campus. One incident occurred last school year where he witnessed a bumper-to-bumper accident caused by a student. He reported that the student was speeding and seemingly trying to show off to their friends, while doing so, they hit the back of another car because they did not have enough time to brake. Given that much of his day is spent supervising campus on his golf cart, Mr. Flores often sees incidents such as this one. He stated that the majority of the time, accidents around campus are caused by students driving recklessly.
To ensure the safety of everyone in and around our school campus, drivers must follow proper safety procedures. In particular, following the posted speed limit and other traffic signs can minimize danger. One of, if not the biggest issue at Willow Glen High School when it comes to road safety is speeding. Per the California DMV student handbook, the speed limit in school zones is 25 mph within 500 feet of a school while children are outside or crossing the street. Some school zones may even be as low as 15 mph. This means that there is no excuse for anyone, whether it be a student, parent, or community member, to be going 40 mph past the school.
The use of technology while driving also has a high correlation with traffic accidents; by reducing phone use, the number of distracted drivers will decrease, making the roads safer for pedestrians and drivers alike. Drivers should under no circumstance use a handheld device. Devices such as phones, iPads, or computers take a driver’s attention away from the road, creating an extremely dangerous environment. It is crucial that everyone is educated on how to drive safely to make certain that the streets are as safe as possible.
Our school has gone to great lengths to create a safe community around campus. They have even gone so far as to provide free Drivers Education classes to students grades sophomores and up. The hope is that students will use their access to this education to learn to be safe drivers and contribute to a peaceful and safe school environment.
