Two years ago Adam Levinson and Nicholas Olson, Division Heads for Student Success, Safety, and Wellness, implemented a mandatory parking lot safety class for students. According to Levinson, since then, accidents in the parking lot have decreased by 95%.
“Do we have problems occasionally?” asked Levinson. “Once in a blue moon, but they are better than three years ago.”
Once students earn their license, they can apply for a school parking pass during junior year. Since getting a license is an exciting sense of independence for a teenager, following the rules of the road is especially important for new drivers.
According to the Illinois Secretary of State’s website, 20% of all licensed 16-year-olds are involved in a vehicle crash, and their fatality rate is roughly three to five times that of drivers in their 30s, 40s, or 50s.
According to Levinson, accidents in the parking lot have decreased, and students are driving much safer in the parking lot. Minor fender benders are the most common type of accident in the parking lot. To avoid these accidents, Levinson advises students to take their time entering and exiting the lot, respect other drivers, and respect traffic flow.
Sozuduz was also in a car accident. She was parallel-parked between two cars. While trying to escape the spot, her dad instructed her on how far to reverse, but she hit the car behind her.
This year, there were 475 parking spots given to seniors and some juniors, including Sozuduz. To get a parking pass, students must fill out an application requiring an updated driver’s license, vehicle registration, and insurance information. All seniors are guaranteed a pass, and juniors can apply through a lottery system. Every student has to pay $180 for the parking pass.
The safety class is taught by Levinson, Olson, Jenna Samp, and Officer Lisa Schaps. There were 6 days in early August that students could attend the safety class, but they only had to participate in one of the classes.
The 45-minute long class was taught in Prospect’s theater, focusing on the rules of having a parking pass and the car students would be driving. They emphasized the importance of attendance and how it affects students, rules of the road, what to do if you get into an accident, not having any drugs or alcohol in the car, and how younger siblings aren’t able to drive the car. If students have 5 tardies or cuts, their parking pass is suspended for 2 weeks; and 10 tardies or cuts can get the parking pass revoked.
Exiting or entering the parking lot is when most accidents occur. Sozuduz thinks that cars should alternate between moving forward and letting another car in when trying to leave the parking lot. Another frustrating part about driving in the parking lot is parents coming to pick up their kids by door 30.
Sozuduz finds it frustrating when parents either park in a parking spot that is designated for students or turn on their hazard lights in the right lane, which blocks other cars from progressing in the line. The deans recommend that parents pick up or drop off their kids at door 6 through the circle drive to keep traffic moving.
Following these traffic rules help keep all students and parents at Prospect safe when they are in the parking lot. Parking can be especially one of the most difficult skills for drivers. In the parking lot, students should be patient with one another and follow the rules in order to make the parking lot safe for teen drivers.
“The number one thing is to just constantly be courteous,” said Sozuduz. “Be aware of those who aren’t.”
