Last week, what should have been a normal drive home from school turned into something much more serious, my car got hit in the school parking lot. It wasn’t because of bad weather or poor visibility, but because another student was driving like they were the only one on the road. No caution, no awareness, just entitlement. Unfortunately, this isn’t a rare occurrence. Every day, students rush in and out of the parking lot as if rules don’t apply to them, creating an environment that is not just chaotic, but dangerous. A student named Addie Sellers says, “I was just parked in my car waiting to walk up to the school because I have my first and second periods off when suddenly I saw someone trying to back into a parking spot and ended up getting to close to my car and scrapped my bumper. He apologized but the issue hasn’t been resolved yet. When I saw the car getting too close to my car I got scared because I really didn’t want my car to get hit but unfortunately it did”
Reckless driving in the parking lot has become a serious issue among student drivers. Speeding through tight rows, ignoring stop signs, and being distracted by phones or passengers are all common behaviors. Many students act as if getting to class a few seconds faster is more important than the safety of those around them. This mindset puts both drivers and pedestrians at risk. The parking lot is a shared space, and it only takes one careless decision to cause an accident. Sophia Chipchak says, ” My experience in the parking lot, I was trying to leave and this Tesla sped up in front of me and wouldn’t let me leave because they wanted to pick up their kid but they could have just gone through the car ramp instead of camping in the parking lot. This reckless driver made my experiences negative.”
Safe driving in a school parking lot should be the bare minimum expectation. Drivers should be slowing down, staying alert, and always yielding to pedestrians. Simple habits like putting your phone away, checking mirrors, and being patient can prevent accidents. At the end of the day, arriving safely is far more important than arriving quickly. Respect for others on the road is what keeps everyone protected.
Beyond reckless driving, the design and structure of our school’s parking system only adds to the problem. Juniors and seniors are the only students who are able to get a parking pass, with seniors receiving priority access. While this seems fair in theory, the reality is far from it. This year, junior parking passes sold out in just two minutes, it felt more like trying to get tickets to a Taylor Swift concert than securing a spot at school. With limited on campus space and very few off campus options, many students are forced to park far away and walk alone, which raises safety concerns. This issue is even more frustrating for student athletes, especially those in swim and water polo, who already have to drive up to 40 minutes to practice because the school lacks its own pool. Despite their commitment and long commutes, they all still may not have access to a parking pass.
There are several solutions that could improve both safety and accessibility. The school could expand parking areas or create a more structured system, such as reserving a certain number of passes specifically for juniors. Another option could be having a bus or shuttle to nearby parking lots at local churches to transport students to and from school and their cars. For safety, stricter enforcement of speed limits and clearer signage in the parking lot could help reduce reckless driving. Schools could also consider adding security presence or crossing monitors during busy times. Even small changes, like better traffic flow design could make a big difference.
The parking lot should not be a place where students feel unsafe or overlooked. It should function as a system that protects and supports everyone who uses it. Right now, it falls short on both safety and fairness. If changes aren’t made, incidents like mine, Addie Sellers, and Sophia Chipchak will continue to happen and next time, it could be worse than just a close call.
