Two vehicles were heavily damaged in a crash in the parking lot of J. Watson Bailey Middle School in Kingston during student drop-off on the morning of Monday, Sept. 15. According to a statement from principal Debra Fitzgerald, no one was hurt, but the situation “could have been far worse”.
Parents, teachers and students of J. Watson Bailey are familiar with what can be charitably described as a challenging traffic situation during student pick-ups and drop-offs at the school. A long line of cars forms up and down Merilina Avenue and Quarry Street, which are the only access points to the drop-off area, and must merge from opposite directions into the drop-off line alongside the school. The bumper-to-bumper traffic often requires a Kingston police officer to be stationed at the intersection of Quarry Street and Hurley Avenue to direct traffic and prevent further back-ups.
Though numerous school personnel stand in and around the drop-off area directing traffic, the scene is often chaotic, with staff sometimes screaming directions at cars and making frenetic hand gestures to keep traffic moving. Students must hurriedly exit and enter vehicles so as to not stop the line of vehicles from moving for too long.
Occasionally, vehicles will block side side streets, driveways and parking lots, or simply flout the traffic pattern entirely in trying to pass the line of cars, causing further traffic headaches. Children crossing through traffic are escorted by staff in the drop-off area, but some must cross through the moving line of vehicles further down the road.
Complicating matters further, when other school parking lots overflow, cars will sometimes park on the side of Quarry Street right where vehicles merge, pushing the opposing lanes of traffic so close that extra caution must be used.
Fitzgerald said in her statement that Monday’s accident was “entirely preventable had our established procedures been followed.” She outlined the school’s pick-up and drop-off procedures in her statement, available on the school’s website.
“I know mornings and afternoons can be hectic,” she wrote, “but student safety is our top priority.”
No further details on the accident were shared.
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