Morning school traffic is nothing new, yet this year the problem is worse than in years past. There are a couple of contributing factors.

 

Because of construction at Simpson Elementary, the school’s fifth grade classes are meeting at Bridgeport Middle School. That’s an extra 75 to 80 students entering BMS daily, said Prevention Resource Officer Jamie Hamrick of the Bridgeport Police Force.

 

“Another factor is that the high school is starting five minutes earlier this year,” she said.

 

Secretary Linda Fragmin said the slight change was made to accommodate the county’s Grab-and-Go breakfast program. Students are offered the bagged breakfast between first and second block. They now have a few more minutes to take part in that, Fragmin said.

 

Hamrick is stationed daily at Bridgeport High School. She has been directing the bottleneck traffic which enters BHS and Bridgeport Middle School. Police Chief John Walker has also directed traffic on occasion. Their intent, Hamrick said, is to keep traffic flowing.  There are some ways drivers can assist too.

 

“Leaving early is always a good thing and it’s definitely a bonus if you can carpool,” Hamrick said. “Another thing is having the kids ready to get out of the car. That’s huge and I see that from Kindergarten through 12^th grade. It helps if they are ready to jump out of the car when you drop them off.”

 

It’s also helpful if parents start letting students out of the car before they get to the spot closest to the school entrance or crosswalk.

 

“It helps move things forward if they get out two, three or even four cars deep,” Hamrick said. “They don’t have to be right at the crosswalk.”

 

Hamrick asks that parents not drop students off on Johnson Avenue.

 

“That puts the kids at risk because people aren’t always paying attention,” she said. “As bad as the traffic is in the parking lots, please pull in.”

 

She reminds motorists that the speed limit in the school zone is 15 miles per hour. That is on the roadways and in the parking lots; regardless of whether lights are flashing.

 

Typically, school traffic settles somewhat as the school year progresses, Hamrick said.

 

“It’s going to take some time,” she said. “We just ask that everyone be patient.”