Years ago, walking and biking to school was commonplace; now it is a rarity.
The Federal Highway Administration reports that by 2001, nearly 9 out of
10 children between the ages of 5 and 15 were driven to school by either
a parent or a bus driver, adding additional traffic to the morning commute
and negatively affecting communities around schools.
School zone traffic congestion is a significant safety hazard for
school children in the Anchorage School District. Besides causing
needless traffic
congestion, parents often double park or stop on crosswalks,
blocking visibility for children and other motorists. In addition,
parents occasionally stop
in moving traffic, expecting their children to get out
and scramble to the sidewalk or bus – or across a busy street.
Many days, caring parents unknowingly create traffic hazards as they
drop off or pick up
their children. By making simple changes, the danger to
all students can be reduced.
The following are practical suggestions that parents can take to reduce
school zone traffic hazards:
