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Cautious in School Zones
updated: Oct 29, 2012, 4:02 PM

By Edhat Subscriber

I saw something this morning that was so close to being a tragic accident that I felt compelled to write about it and remind people to be careful while driving near schools. Around 8:00 this morning I was behind a car at the stop sign in front of Monroe Elementary. We were traveling towards Cliff. A group of people including some children were being escorted across the crosswalk by the crossing guard when the car in front of me started to roll through the intersection. At first I figured they were just being impatient and didn't want the car on Red Rose to cut in front of them so he/she was establishing they were next to go through the intersection. However, the car continued on and started to accelerate just as the group in the crosswalk was about half way across. At the last second the guard stopped the group as the car ran through the crosswalk and continued down towards Cliff. I have no idea what the driver was thinking or if they were distracted, but this was very close to a horrible accident. Please be extra careful out there when driving near schools. Leave the cell phone alone and slow it down, nothing could be worth what I almost saw happen today.

Comments in order of when they were received | (reverse order)

MESARATS	2012-10-29 04:42 PM
A few days ago my brother narrowly avoided being creamed on his bike at Monroe by a women in a big hurry to get the kids to school. Didn't think the stop sign applied to her.
COMMENT 336878	2012-10-29 04:57 PM
The other morning just before 8am I was driving west on Hollister approaching Puente, and since there were a bunch of kids walking to school I had slowed to 25mph. An SUV that was behind me gunned it to at least 60mph, swerved around me then abruptly slammed on the brakes in front of San Marcos to let their kid out. Saved all of 4 seconds in the process. Morons.
COMMENT 336879	2012-10-29 05:10 PM
Boy people do the craziest things in the morning when they are late getting their kids to school or late for work. Schools would be a great place for some police sting operations, make some money for the city and keep the children safe at the same time.
COMMENT 336883	2012-10-29 05:52 PM
Also NO shaving with electric razors while driving! Please just go to bed 5 minutes earlier........
BULLSEYEB	2012-10-29 06:42 PM
884, race has NOTHING to do with reckless driving. It is just plain old stupidity and distractions.
COMMENT 336900	2012-10-29 06:57 PM
It's funny how nearly every "just say'n" comment seen on the internet is preceded by a racist statement. No, 884, bad driving knows no race, creed or gender.
BULLSEYEB	2012-10-29 07:20 PM
899P, I get what you are saying, but that is clearly not what 884 was implying.
COMMENT 336921	2012-10-29 07:55 PM
Cops have been nabbing crazy drivers on Las Positas near Adams school a few days a week since school started....so thankful when dropping my son off!
COMMENT 336923	2012-10-29 07:56 PM
OP here - I wish I could have gotten the license plate number. It took me a while to get through the school zone and by the time I got out to Cliff the car was gone. Next time I will try and be a little more on top of things. Sometimes it feels like the school zones have the opposite effect and cause people to drive more aggressively rather than with more caution. Next time take a look around at the children going to school and think about how we can all help to get them there safely.
COMMENT 336933	2012-10-29 08:14 PM
yah op....get your pen and paper out and get that plate number WHILE you are driving. You could get in an accident trying to report a non accident. Someone made a mistake but did no harm.....Don't cause an accident while trying to play traffic cop nanny. If you can stop and park by all means GREAT!
COMMENT 336946P	2012-10-29 08:45 PM
My husband is white with red hair and blue eyes, and he is a HORRIBLE driver.
COMMENT 336960P	2012-10-29 10:01 PM
It's amazing how impatient people can be while driving. Every couple months or so I have to give the finger, twice, to people who honk at me for slowing to 25. The first finger is to blow off steam, and the other is to point at the school zone sign that justifies my speed.
TWOBITS	2012-10-29 10:23 PM
The sun this time of year is an added road hazard for our east/west facing roads. Tragedies have happened. Please drive slowly and safely.
ROGER DODGER	2012-10-30 06:46 AM
One day on Cabrillo near the Double Tree while I was in the bicycle lane on my tricycle one of those big old cement trucks got along side me and ran me into the curb. If you ever see me on a sidewalk thats why I'd rather get a ticket than get squashed.
COMMENT 336985	2012-10-30 07:16 AM
Cars & bikes going thru red lights, Cars speeding around park areas and schools is not a priority in SB
COMMENT 336999	2012-10-30 08:02 AM
Just a reminder that our Assemblyman, Das Williams, doubled the fine for speeding in a school zone from ~$300 to ~$600 with a bill he sponsored last year. So if someone does get nailed it is going to cost them dearly. One of the things that is occurring on our streets is that undocumented workers are driving. Even if they wanted to get a license and insurance, they can't. So they haven't taken a driver's test or anything. One of the arguments about allowing them to be licensed and insured is to hopefully improve the driving situation for the rest of us. If they could be licensed, and aren't, then throw them in the hoosegow and lose the key. I would approve of using my tax dollars for that.
CORKY	2012-10-30 08:19 AM
I agree with the licensing of undocumented drivers. It only makes sense. Doesn't make people obey the rules, but at least they have had to show they can operate a vehicle safely.
COMMENT 337003	2012-10-30 08:20 AM
I drive daily on Cathedral Oaks and every morning more than half the people are going through the school zone by foothill school doing 35+. I don't think it has anything to do with undocumented workers, I think it has to do with Americans who feel their time is more valuable than someone else's. You see it literally every day.
COMMENT 337004	2012-10-30 08:22 AM
Tell them what you're going to tell them. Tell them. Tell them what you've told them. It's the Parents. The very parents who complain about the drivers are the offenders. I live by an Elementary school. I walk my kids to school. It's the Parents. The very parents who complain about the drivers are the offenders. I said it twice It's the Parents. Until a Parent runs over another parent's kids/family they won't get it. I see it every day.
COMMENT 337005	2012-10-30 08:22 AM
MESARATS There is no excuse for bad and dangerous driving but it is odd you mention how the driver you saw, apparently ignoring a stop sign and endangering a bicyclist. The majority of bicyclists I see regularly on the street routinely ignore stop signs. The police need to enforce that law. The fine for a bicycle running a stop sign is $450.00 THATS RIGHT! $450.00 DOLLARS
COMMENT 337010P	2012-10-30 08:33 AM
999-Das should have tripled it, he still doesn't get my vote. "Undocumented workers" could solve that problem by becoming documented. Then they could get a license and insurance. Allowing illegal aliens to obtain driver's licenses is just encouraging more to come. Same with allowing them to work without going through the process like every legal immigrant did. I do not see the logic behind rewarding illegal activity. Regarding the driving in this town I made a point to watch for any illegal maneuvers I saw on the way to work this morning. First was a bicycle rider ignoring a stop sign and cutting off a car whose turn it was at a 4 way stop on Garden. On the next block a pedestrian ran out from between two cars to jaywalk across Garden right before Anacapa. At Garden and Anacapa a car making a left turn towards the highschool cut off straight through traffic to make the turn while there were students in the cross walk. Two blocks up on Garden before Mission St a car sped around my car and made a pass then slammed on his brakes before going through the stop sign. On State just after San Roque four bicycle riders rode 2 by 2 partially in the right lane. One of them seemed to be weaving towards cars trying to use that lane. On the whole I don't think Santa Barbarans care one way or another what the rules of the road are, they do as they please in their "it's all about me" world.
COMMENT 337016P	2012-10-30 08:37 AM
Do they still show Signal 40 in schools? maybe time for an updated movie showing texting, road rage and horrible consequences. As graphic as possible.
COMMENT 337022	2012-10-30 08:53 AM
To OP don't blame yourself for not getting the license plate number. It happened so fast, completely unexpected. Next time we have cameras installed at intersections our around schools for a multiple of reasons, don't complain (not that you ever did or will). We must support and take care of each other, Golden Rule #2.
COMMENT 337028P	2012-10-30 08:59 AM
Adams School needs a police car presence both before and after school. The traffic guard is wonderful but he has to keep his eyes on the kids crossing Las Positas. I think the state owes this neighborhood a bridge crossing to make the kids safe.
COMMENT 337029	2012-10-30 08:59 AM
Soccer Moms with their cell phones are the absolute worst.
COMMENT 337038	2012-10-30 09:10 AM
Flora Vista has become a major throughfare. With the steep decline, "racers" roll down that street way to fast. Depending on traffic safety, this street may be a candidate for speed bumps.
ARCHIE	2012-10-30 09:27 AM
884, is that the human race you were referring to?
COMMENT 337054	2012-10-30 09:48 AM
004 - easy with the soapbox. I am the OP and a parent as well. When it comes to this issue I agree that some parents drive aggressively when dropping off or picking up their kids from school, I have seen it many times. I know that their are days when I am feeling rushed, stressed and driving faster than I really should. On these days I try and take a deep breath, look in the back seat at my daughter and try and keep things in perspective. Is it "the Parents" sometimes....sure. But it also could be every other "type" of driver out there. My original message was directed at all drivers, some days we all make bad decisions and some days those decisions can lead to terrible consequences.
COMMENT 337064	2012-10-30 09:59 AM
Where I grew up in the Philly suburbs, a flashing light indicated that you were entering a school zone, and if it was flashing then you HAD to slow to 20 or 25 mph. There was no "When Children Present" on the sign. 99% of the problem is that people aren't sure whether or not they HAVE to slow down. I think we should take that choice away from the driver and make these zones a mandatory slow zone during ALL school hours, not just when kids normally arrive and leave, and whether or not you actually see kids.
COMMENT 337066	2012-10-30 10:01 AM
In Scottdale AZ its 15mph around schools. 15! Yes, that's very slow but its so slow that you can tell immediately whether someone is going too fast. Perhaps a little adjustment on our school zone speed limit is due.
COMMENT 337072	2012-10-30 10:09 AM
Even when it's a car driver almost hitting kids, some people are still bashing bicyclists ... and Das ... and "races" ...

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