Eagle Era

The daily struggle to get out of a parking lot packed with impatient drivers and darting students

By Anthony Liu

Afternoon dismissal turns the parking lot into a slow-moving maze as drivers jockey for the few exit lanes. Amid the chaos, one thought unifies everyone: getting out as quickly as possible.

“It’s honestly more dangerous than a regular parking lot,” said Alvin Tang (12), who walks through the back lot most afternoons. “There are so many student drivers rushing out that I feel like I have to look left, right, up, and down before crossing.” Tang said he’s seen cars cut across lanes or drive over medians, just to get out faster. “Some people act like they’re in a race.”

Drivers feel it too. Evan Cao (12), who drives himself to school, said mornings are usually calm, but afternoons are another story. “After school, it’s way more chaotic,” Cao said. “Everyone’s in a rush. It takes me about 20 minutes to get out on some days when it should take just 10.”

The daily parking lot gridlock which  somehow became a routine part of AHS (Photo Credit: Anthony Liu (12)).

Cao said he has watched students speed, blast through stop signs, and cut in front of others just to save a few seconds. “You’ll see people do dangerous stuff just to get ahead,” he said. “And honestly, some walkers don’t help either. They’ll run between cars because they think everyone can see them.”

Traffic challenges extend beyond students. Teachers and administrators face the same gridlock while trying to keep people safe. Some staff members leave a few minutes early to avoid the rush, while most administrators stay to help direct cars. “They help near the exits,” Cao said, “but inside the parking rows, it’s just chaos.”

Principal Sandhya Sharma said the school is aware of the issue and is doing what it can to keep things safe. “Our staff does a great job, but having additional support would certainly help us monitor all areas more effectively,” Mrs. Sharma said. “The parking lot was originally designed for a much smaller school population, and Alder Avenue itself is a narrow street. During dismissal, the high volume of cars often causes congestion.”

Mrs. Sharma listed the most common safety problems. “Cars exit through the entrance, drivers cut across lanes, and students run across Alder Avenue instead of using crosswalks,” she said. She explained that the issue isn’t the number of incidents; it’s the risk. “Every time someone, whether a driver or a pedestrian, fails to follow the rules, it puts others at risk,” she said.

Tang and Cao both said the situation could improve with some changes. Tang suggested adding more exits, while Cao thought clearer signs and more staff in the lot could help. Mrs. Sharma believes improvement ultimately depends on behavior, not design. “Ultimately, the biggest improvement would come from consistent, safe driving,” she said. “When everyone follows the rules and remains patient, traffic flows much more smoothly.”

For now, the after-school rush is just part of the routine. As Tang put it, “You just hope everyone makes it out without a dent.”