I agree with what you have said, but what about asking students to slow down? I have seen MANY students speeding around town, windows down, and music turned up all the way. I think the slow down plea should go to everybody in the city of Pleasanton. I had somebody bump me in a parking lot once and only reason she stopped is cuz I pounding on the trunk- very scary might I add. Also, I think it's important for people that do walk to use crosswalks and not dart across the middle of the street (I'm not saying your children did, just pointing out that is very dangerous as well). Anyway, happy safe driving people =)

Dear PTown94566,
I agree that there are plenty of people speeding in Pleasanton, including students. I'm always amazed at the number of people who disregard the 25mph speed limit when children are walking to and from school. They will tailgate me and if I glace back at them via my rear view mirror, they make angry faces or gestures. (I just point to the speed limit sign and give them a friendly wave and a smile - disarms them)

I also agree that pedestrians should use crossswalks, even if it means walking a bit further to get to a crosswalk. Unfortunately, there is no crosswalk in the Amador student parking lot...but I've suggested one be added!

You wont' get any argument from me about the dangers of parking lots! It's not just the Amador student parking lot that can be dangerous.....Walmart, Trader Joe's, Safeway....I do my best to avoid going to any of those places during peak shopping times.

Thanks for your comments...maybe if everyone who see someone driving recklessly takes a minute to contact the Pleasanton Police Dept, it will make a difference. No guarantees the Police Dept will be able to send out officers to intercept the driver each time, but worth a try.

Taking the time to read all the postings, I must say that the ignorance of understanding that having bored teens, and a community of teens drinking and driving is a theme on this thread. This behavior has gone for years and years with and without parents consent in this community. The choice to drink under age and drive is a CHOICE these teens make. They also choose to drive fast in our town, and speed in the parking lots of the schools. Common sense is thrown out the window because at this age they are invincible. To those who have mentioned there is not enough activities in Pleasanton to participate in is an excuse not to get involved. The City of Pleasanton Parks and Recreation Department have plenty of opportunities to find something to do. Give the city a call. Drinking at parties in the city have gone for years. If parents and community members REALLY want to get involved to deter this behavior use the internet. Google is your friend. Find the party websites. You'll probably surprised if you don't see your children posing for pics on this sites. Find the party fliers that are passed out the high schools on Thursdays and Fridays in your kids backpacks and rooms. Teens see nothing wrong with this behavior because the city maintains a low tolerance policy. The resolution to this party atmosphere is a mere ticket by the police to those at the party but only if the police become aware of the party. The police have a job to do the law is the law no matter how nice a person this teen was. We ALL have a responsibility to be MORE active. We have lost 4 young lives in this town in 2007, 4 in the past month. What is acceptable collateral damage number before we ALL step up and protect our children. I just lost a family member and my heart goes out to the families and their friends who that have been affected by this incident. You never move on, you just go on because you have to for those who are left behind.

Sorry, my previous post was to be read the other thread. Quickly for my 7 years of volunteering for the schools it has always been a huge battle to get the schools to change the way the parking lots are painted. Traffic Calming aside, going to the principal will get you nowhere. This issue which will remain an issue. It has to be exposed to the school board in an email or in person at the school board meetings. There are so many parents like you past and present who have had to endure this horrible situation, thinking that the the school will be the hero. YOU need to protect your children. Send the email to have a crosswalk painted in. It won't take months of study to see if it's needed, the school ALREADY knows it's needed. It was already discussed by me with the school administration. I know my son graduated in 2006. Good luck.

Thanks for your input and suggestions Paula.

There have been a few times when I've brought up situations/problems with Amador administration and they've resolved the situations/problems in a timely manner. So my experience with them has been positive, and I hope it continues to be.

However, your advice is good, and I will also contact the school board members with my concerns. (although I'm surprised none have yet chimed in - at least a few of them tend to monitor the Town Square Forum) Would you mind posting some specific information about your discussions with PUSD regarding the need for a crosswalk in the Amador parking lot? (e.g. who contacted, when, any written responses, etc.) I'm especially interested in the reasoning given for not providing the crosswalk.

Thanks so much!

My contact with the board was through those who no longer sit on the board and with Juanita Haugen who has since passed. I'm glad your reception to your needs has been positive. It's also good to hear that the board follow these threads. Discussions concerning the crosswalk always took a back seat since the renovation and building of the parking structure in the back lot was a priority at the time. But now this discussion can be brought up again! I have many friends who have students at Amador, who complain about "taking their life in their own hands" when dealing with the parking lot. I'm sure that the school admin and school board would be happy to look at a written proposal to add a painted crosswalk if you put a proposal together and submitted to the board for review.

I've seen parents model poor driving behavior for teens by driving through crowded parking lots at speeds up to 40 mph.

But guess what? Teachers at both Foothill and Amador do the same thing. Not all teachers, just some--the same way some teens drive recklessly in those parking lots and some parents do, as well.

Since those people can't or won't govern their own behavior, I think the Pleasanton police need to have an officer on hand during busy times (before/after school) and issue reckless driving citations. I'd prefer that people control themselves voluntarily, but since some people are obviously The Most Important People in the World, they need to be reminded via a traffic citation that astronomers have found the center of the universe (and it's not them).

Well said Samuel!
Good luck getting the traffic officers to monitor the high schools on a regular basis. Too many schools too many bad drivers. If you are able to catch a license number of a crazy driver then a call to the non emergency police line is helpful. It has always worked for me.

Samuel, I think you're quite right, and on top of that, I chuckled at your last line... sadly, it seems so apt around Pleasanton. I had written on another thread about my concerns of adults speeding around town, thinking that they (and only THEY, well, they and their precious families) were so important that the rules didn't apply to them. I know that some people might think I was being too facetious, but as I drive around town, it sure seems that this is the mind-set:

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Stacey - thanks for bringing up the new hands-free cell phone law; that will help some, if people start following the law when it goes into effect. I'm still concerned about the speed of the big trucks and SUVs around town, with their drivers thinking that posted speed limits, turn signals and other safe driving practices apply only to those who "don't have a real life with so many important things to do". The fact that these drivers have kids and young teens in their vehicles when they drive in this hell-bent-we're-late-for-school-soccer-football-band-practice-so-who-needs-to-slow-down manner makes it all the worse, since they're patterning behaviors that their kids are going to remember when THEY are behind the wheel in the not-distant future.

I'd like to have an open forum on this, with input from Pleasanton residents. Maybe discuss such questions as:

1) "Do you use your turn signals when making a right turn (or left turn, or just changing lanes)? If not, why not?"

a) because I'm on my cell phone and don't have a free hand
b) because that's for wusses
c) because that's for people who don't own expensive cars
d) because it's been so long since I used it, I've forgotten how
e) because I did that once and broke a nail... right after having my weekly manicure!

2) "Do you think it's a good idea to go 50 in a 35 mph zone?"

a) sure,why not, that's what the accelator on my expensive SUV is for
b) no, but I'm on my cell phone and I lose track of my speed
c) not usually, but if I'm late for something, hell yeah
d) of course - they post a speed limit, but everyone knows that you can add 15 mph and not get caught if you're smart

3) "Do you come to a full stop before making a right hand turn?"
a) are you kidding me? That's only when you're taking the driving test
b) Yes. Always. I mean, if I see a cop car around.

Samuel, you brought up a good sugestion, regarding police presents at
most if not all schools. If it can be done that would be great, but if it can't then maybe signs can be posted in parking lots and along the streets near the schools with the non-emergency police line and the school administration phone line to report any violators vehicle license number.
The school administration or Police Dept can then send a warning notice to 1st time violators; and of course a 2nd violation could result in a verbal warning and so on....
This is kinda like neighborhood watch, just at our school parking lots and nearby streets.

I wonder what would happen if driving were banned within a certain radius of the school during those times and students had to take buses or bike or walk.

like thats going to ever happen.

To Worried Amador Parent:

Thank you for your post.. this happens at Foothill as well.. it is soo funny that your simple plea for adults to slow down has turned into a 3 ring circus about the students speeding etc,. although I agree with that as well we should all stick to YOUR original PLEA and figure out a way to make US adults good examples to our children so they learn the right ways. We must remember children learn from their parents and setting these bad examples does not help them become better people as they become adults.

To Just another commment:

I agree with what you're saying about parents (and other adults) modeling the good behavior for our children. I hope that part didn't get lost in my post above, and that it was understood that I was talking about parents/adults and not students speeding. My other post under the "Sixth grader in stable condition..." topic started out with the premise:

"This speeding and inattention by parents is a common occurrence around town, and one which has become scarier", and then went on to talk about the danger this puts our kids in, and the example that is being set.

I hope this is something that can be talked about in a constructive manner so that we can all have more driving safety around town.

Sarah,

Very well put...nobody should ever get defensive about issues like this, we are all guilty one time or even more of not being totally aware of how we get from here to there especially since the world is a rat race.

Talkingabout it, discussing good practices etc will only help keep our children safe.

Thank you everyone for your comments and postings. Samuel, yours made me laugh!

I do want to reiterate that my original post was only about the adults who are speeding through the lot and refuse to stop to allow the students to cross the traffic lanes.

My daughter has told me that she's never had a problem with a student driver not waiting for her to cross before moving on. They seem to recognize the need to offer the same kind of courtesy to other students that they'd want given to them.

It used to be that as my daughter left for school each morning, I'd remind her to drive carefully because there are so many people who are thinking about getting to work and their driving can be a bit - well, distracted. Now I find myself saying "make sure you're careful crossing the traffic lane!" I've gone from worrying about the dangers she faces as a driver, to worrying about the dangers she has a pedestrian.

It's very nice to know there are other adult Pleasanton residents who share my concerns and make the effort to model good driving habits, and there are teens out there who do the same!

Samuel, if you see staff speeding through the parking lot, please call the PUSD anonymous tip line (it should be available on e-connect, the PUSD website or through either high school's website)

Meanwhile, I am hoping that Amador will install a painted crosswalk, and that by bringing up this topic, people will become more aware about driving more slowly and carefully wherever there are pedestians, and others will share their concerns with the school board and PUSD.

Good news! I just heard from Amador admiistration that they are working with PUSD facilities to get a crosswalk and a traffic lane speed bump installed in the student parking lot.

I am so appreciative of the way Amador Administration took my concern seriously and acted so promptly!

Please join me in thanking them for their efforts!

This is totally awesome........good job

Doesnt the amador parking lot currently have 4-5 speed bumps by the baseball fields and 3 in the center lane? Why is there a need for more?

Dear Student,

The speed bump Amador is planning on installing would be in the traffic lane adjacent to Building Q. I know, the speed bumps are a pain, but unfortunately the behavior of some adult drivers has made it necessary to install a speed bump in the only area where there isn't one already! It would be terrific if people would drive slowly in the parking lot and yield the right of way to pedestrians, but there's always a few people who think, as Samuel put so well, they are the center of the universe.

Cripes -- the original thread talks about the Amador Parking Lots and speeding. Apparently the "overflow" parking lot known as Gatetree Circle has a similar problem. Kids park there and rip around the circle like it is a speedway. Laguna Seca this is not.

SLOW DOWN...

FYI -- the parents dropping off and picking up their kids at the Gatetree walk-thru are equally guilty of creating the Laguna Seca atmosphere on Gatetree Circle.

At least we know where the kids get it from...

The Gatetree Circle fence has been closed for several months which allowed students to access the rear of the school. Now the only path leads right to the front of the school where the original poster states the safety concern. Besides this path is only dirt which makes for a big mud puddle after the rain. Ultimately more parents will be driving thru the front lot creating more traffic problems then when this back entrance was open. If the Pleasanton police monitored the Gatetree entrance for speeders or speed bumps were put on the street that would discourage speeding at the back entrance as well.

Quote: The Gatetree Circle fence has been closed for several months which allowed students to access the rear of the school. Now the only path leads right to the front of the school where the original poster states the safety concern. Besides this path is only dirt which makes for a big mud puddle after the rain. Ultimately more parents will be driving thru the front lot creating more traffic problems then when this back entrance was open. If the Pleasanton police monitored the Gatetree entrance for speeders or speed bumps were put on the street that would discourage speeding at the back entrance as well.
Posted by Anonymous, a member of the Amador Valley High School community, 16 hours ago
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Those that live on Gatetree Circle have asked for Pleasanton PD support. One neighbor was told by a Pleasanton PD officer that this situation should be expected when you purchase near a High School. Barking dog complaints seem to get more attention.

Futhermore, speed bumps will not resolve the issue. Many feel shocks and struts are easily replaced. While traffic flow is a problem, those that live on Gatetree should not be asked to further alter their lives because of insensitive kids and adults who don't realize they are driving through a neighborhood rather than a raceway.

I find it interesting the poster is more concerned about the access gateway referenced being a "mud puddle" than in ensuring those who live in the immediate community are safe -- including those with small children.

While I wasn't aware the gate had been locked, I say GOOD! Now if we can just get the portables moved so that people aren't urinating on neighbor's fences.

I have to agree with the PLeasanton PD in that if you buy a house near an entrance to a high school you will have traffic problems.
Do the small children in this community play in the middle of the street during school drop off hours?
Seriously though if you read thru the mud puddle comment led to the fact that ultimately more parents would drive to the front of the school. Speeding is a problem all over. Closing a gate won't stop it. What if all the residents that live near entrances to schools argued your point. Would the district close all side/rear entrances? .

Quote: I have to agree with the PLeasanton PD in that if you buy a house near an entrance to a high school you will have traffic problems.
Do the small children in this community play in the middle of the street during school drop off hours?

Seriously though if you read thru the mud puddle comment led to the fact that ultimately more parents would drive to the front of the school. Speeding is a problem all over. Closing a gate won't stop it. What if all the residents that live near entrances to schools argued your point. Would the district close all side/rear entrances? .
Posted by Anonymous, a resident of another community, 15 hours ago

_________________

While I do not disagree with the Pleasanton PD's statement, I disagree with the statement being coupled with NO action.

To answer your question regarding the small children -- play is underway during pick-up hours.

Lastly, if we still had a School Bus system, the problem being argued would be greatly reduced and Moms with their big fat SUVs could go hang out at Starbucks instead.

TAKE AWAY THE CARS AND MAKE ALL STUDENTS AND PARENTS WALK ON CAMPUS....PROBLEM SOLVED!

IF A STUDENT CRASHES AND HARMS AN INNOCENT PERSON, DON'T COME CRYING TO ME...