Dear Editor:

The main parking lot has long been a source of much friction and many headaches. Putting aside the parking space issues, student behavior in the parking lot is a problem that persists no matter what parking requirements exist. Students regularly exhibit inattentive and brash behavior in the parking lot that puts other vehicles as well as pedestrians at risk.

More caution and alertness needs to be exercised in the parking lot. NHS’s list of rules and expectations for appropriate conduct in the parking lot along with the consequences for any misbehaviors or poor choices need to be reiterated and clearly conveyed to the students.

Ignoring the rules of who has “the right of way,” disregarding the speed limit, and not looking when coming around the corner are some examples of the negligent behavior displayed in the parking lot. Students smoking in their car, a practice explicitly prohibited according to the NHS Student Handbook, adds to the concerning air of heedlessness in the parking lot.

According to Nationwide Insurance, one out of every five vehicular motor accidents take place in a parking lot. Especially as the winter season begins, the importance of practicing defensive driving needs to be restated. The CDC warns car accidents continue to be the leading cause of accidental deaths in teens. Although parking lots are not the usual location of high speed accidents, it is still important to be mindful while pulling into a parking spot.

The lack of driving experience by the majority of students is both a reason and concern for the careless conduct demonstrated in the parking lot. Yes, teen-agers are young and bound to make some mistakes, however, this should heighten the level of caution exercised in the parking lot. Crash videos from a study conducted by AAA found that distraction was the main cause in six out of 10 teen car crashes, four times higher than the previous police report estimates. This is further proof that attentive, alert driving cannot be emphasized enough.

Student negligence in the parking lot needs to be addressed and alleviated. Expectations of appropriate behavior as well as parking rules should be concisely communicated. The importance of conscientious, vigilant driving needs to be reiterated and encouraged to improve the safety conditions of the NHS parking lot.

Sincerely,
Madison Banda, senior