by: Advika Anand

Graphics Editor

Every weekday morning from 8:00 to 8:30, students ages 5 to 18 scramble to leave their houses on time so they can navigate streets already crowded with impatient drivers. The commute is stressful alone, but for students heading to Los Gatos High School, it can also be unsafe. Because the route to LGHS passes several other LGUSD schools, traffic from multiple campuses flows into the same roads. This overlap only worsens congestion and increases the risk of accidents. The LGHS administration should take immediate action by hiring trained crossing guards at the crosswalks surrounding the school to minimize traffic, prevent accidents, and ensure the safety of students walking or biking to campus.

Even after drivers pass these schools, the traffic does not dissipate, but actually escalates. Approaching LGHS from Los Gatos Boulevard, traffic gathers again near the crosswalks surrounding campus. With so many students walking from Loma Alta Avenue or nearby neighborhoods, sidewalks and crosswalks become crowded: cars are forced to stop abruptly for pedestrians, students rush to cross before the bell, and both groups grow increasingly frustrated. This combination of factors creates an environment in which a serious accident feels inevitable. While this issue has existed for years, the administration has not addressed it with the urgency it deserves.

Crossing guards are already a proven solution in the Los Gatos community. Near Fisher Middle School and the surrounding elementary schools, crossing guards are present every morning to manage traffic and help students cross safely. Their presence creates a structure so that cars know when to stop, especially in the absence of signals. Students know when it is safe to cross, and traffic flows more smoothly as a result. At LGHS, however, students are often left to make judgment calls when crossing.

Beyond observation, there is also evidence that crossing guards reduce pedestrian accidents, especially during peak commute hours. According to Safe Routes to School, studies show that adult supervision at crosswalks increases driver awareness and decreases risky behavior from both pedestrians and motorists. High school students may be older than elementary students, but that does not make them immune to danger. In fact, because many LGHS students bike or walk independently, the risks can be even higher.

Ultimately, crossing guards have already proven effective at nearby schools. Hiring crossing guards at LGHS is a simple but realistic solution that would benefit students and drivers alike. The morning commute should feel safe and secure, and crossing guards will be the key to making this vision a reality.

(Source: SRTS)