Schools

Letter to the Editor: Chaparral Traffic Dangerous

When stopped by the police for being in the crosswalk too long, students are forced to get down on both knee's to wait for a ticket, one reader says.

 

Editor's note: This letter comes from Chaparral High School student Katie Cartell.

On a daily basis, pedestrians and drivers face a dangerous task to get to school, especially at the intersections where the crosswalks are clogged with students in the morning and afternoon. 

Students need to be to class at 7:30 a.m. and cannot get to school on time. Once again at 2:30 p.m. when students leave, the crosswalks are overloaded with students trying to beat the light. I also see drivers racing quickly trying to make the light.

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The traffic is very congested in all directions to 's entrances. The students are also scrambling to try to get across the street without getting stopped by police officers who are giving out tickets. 

When a student is in the crosswalk, they are surrounded by students in front and in back of them. Once they leave the curb, they have no choice but to keep proceeding forward to the other side -- at the risk of getting a ticket. When stopped by the police for being in the crosswalk too long, students are forced to get down on both knee's to wait for a ticket.

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This is demoralizing for the students and a traffic risk for everyone involved as drivers gawk at the students who look like they are being arrested on criminal charges.  On several occasions, I have witnessed parents discussing this with the police officers.

What may help as a temporary solution to a very large problem could be making the lights longer on Nicolas and Winchester roads in order to accommodate Chaparrals 3,000-plus student body, many of whom are trying to cross these crosswalks.

This would allow pedestrian traffic more time to get across the road and give Winchester auto traffic more time to get through the intersection without the risk of the light changing forcing the driver to floor it.

In summary, the congestion at the Nicolas and Winchester lights during morning and afternoon periods is dangerous and requires a traffic review by the city.


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