Students are to see a new traffic flow policy take effect on March 23 in the campus parking lot as administrators work to stop outside drivers from using the school as a shortcut to bypass traffic on Frontier Parkway and Preston Road, a change meant to improve student safety.
Students and staff should support these changes and follow the new traffic rules — keeping students safe on campus is more important than saving commuters a few minutes in traffic.
The parking lot has become more than just a place for students to park. It has turned into a high-speed bypass for frustrated commuters.
When traffic on Frontier Parkway and Preston Road backs up, random drivers have started using the campus as a shortcut to skip red lights. Most of these people are in a hurry and aren’t thinking about the safety of the students walking right in front of them. This is why the new traffic flow plan is scheduled to take effect, and it is one of the best steps the school could take for student safety.
Under the new rules, the school will close specific exits from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., only unblocking them for students with off-periods or official permission to leave. By funneling traffic through Eagle Drive, the administration is effectively cutting off the “shortcut” that puts us at risk.
This isn’t just about managing the cars, but it’s actually about trying to protect pedestrians, which are the students. Every day, hundreds of students have to pass by and cross the parking lot to reach the MPF for sports or the Learning Cottages for class. Many students are also carrying sports equipment, instruments or heavy backpacks, which can make it harder to quickly move out of the way of a fast-moving car. When a driver is in a hurry trying to avoid a red light on Frontier, they often aren’t aware of the students around them.
By requiring current parking passes and using the Minga “Check Out Pass” system, the school is ensuring that every person behind the wheel has a reason to be on campus. This makes it harder for outside drivers to cut through the lot just to avoid traffic. Closing the parking lot may be a change in routine, but it is a small price to pay to ensure that students can walk to class without looking over their shoulders for a careless commuter.
Some people may see the new traffic flow as inconvenient, but a few extra minutes of waiting is nothing compared to the risk of a student being hit by a car on campus.
It is time we prioritize the safety of the Eagles over the convenience of a commuter’s morning drive.
This article received edits by Polly Greaves, Kate Duncan and Srinitha Arikati.
