Drivers need to slow down for the safety of students

The crosswalks between Herriman Avenue and Lexington Court in front of the school.

Drivers continuously speed down the roads near Saratoga High School despite the presence of hundreds of pedestrians and cyclists.

After school ends, hundreds of students walk home down Lexington Court, one of the roads in front of the Herriman Avenue entrance to the school that leads into the Golden Triangle neighborhood. While it seems like common sense for cars to slow down near schools, I’ve recently noticed multiple cars quickly zooming down these roads, posing hazards for students. While the speed limit is 25 mph in the school zone, cars seem to go as fast as 35 mph.

To keep students safe, drivers should actually follow speed limits and an email should be sent to parents by the administration reminding drivers — both students and parents — to slow down on nearby streets. On top of that, speed bumps could be considered to further encourage drivers to be mindful of their speed.

With countless accidents already occurring in the Santa Clara County area each month, the community should not add to this toll by speeding in a school zone, and recent rainy and windy weather increase the odds of accidents.

Too often, cars recklessly speed past the crosswalk connecting Lexington Court and Herriman. You would think flashing yellow lights of a pedestrian walking sign would be enough to prompt other vehicles to slow down and stop.

Instead, some cars still zip past, paying no attention to pedestrians.

Aside from rushing through the crosswalk, I’ve also noticed frequent speeders accelerating down Lexington Court. There are also numerous parents parked on Lexington Court to pick up their children, and as students walk into the road to avoid these cars, they are put in more danger by the speeding vehicles.

Common sense would dictate that cars simply slow down on the roads around the school. While we all have somewhere we need to go, slowing down could be the difference between reaching our destinations safely and avoiding potential accidents or hazards. The roads around the school are bustling with pedestrians and cyclists after school, so taking a few extra minutes to slow down will contribute to a safer place for everyone in the community.