If you’ve ever tried getting in or out of Urbana during arrival or dismissal, you know the traffic is rough. Cars back up everywhere, parents are dropping kids off, and students are just trying to get home. It’s crowded, frustrating, and sometimes even unsafe.
Deputy K, our school resource officer, sees it all the time. “A lot of parents are dropping off their kids, and that backs things up. On top of that, some inexperienced drivers are going too fast or not following the rules,” he said.
The biggest safety issues? Speeding, cutting people off, and distracted driving. “I’ve seen students pulling out so fast their tires squeal,” Deputy K said. “And some kids are on their phones, which is just dangerous.”
Being on your phone is a big problem students especially in the morning while driving to school. It can cause accidents and make many bigger problems and make driving dangerous for everyone including the kids that walk to school.
While most students do follow the rules, the problems usually happen at dismissal. Some drivers try to cut through the bus lane or speed out of the lot just to get ahead. “Everybody wants to get home quickly, but it’s important to slow down and take your time,” Deputy K explained.
He also mentioned that the sheriff’s office gets traffic complaints almost every day. Sometimes he goes out to watch, talks to drivers, or even pulls people over when things get too unsafe. There have even been accidents, like one at the back entrance on Campus Drive where a driver didn’t see another car and got T-boned.
His advice to student drivers is simple: “Take your time. Don’t rush to be the first one out of the lot.”
As for solutions, he thinks fewer cars would make the biggest difference. “If you live close enough, walk to school instead of driving. That would really help,” he said.
Students have been driving to school for many years and over time the traffic has gotten worse as more cars keep continuing to come to school each morning to keep everyone safe but being efficient has to be a top priority.
We interviewed a student driver and she said it always takes 15 to 20 to just get a parking spot and each morning is a battle to get onto campus and it is normally backed up. She said driving to school is a good experience but getting up extra early when school is already early is not a good experience.
At the end of the day, fixing traffic takes everyone. “Students need to drive carefully, parents can encourage walking, and staff can help keep things organized. If everyone does their part, traffic will be safer and smoother,” Deputy K said.
Students should be able to get to the point where driving is an efficient route to school and you don’t have to worry about being stuck in school traffic every morning.
