Dodging Dastardly Drivers

Safety within the Yuba College Campus Parking Lots.As a new student on the Yuba College campus most people are pretty excited about starting a new chapter in their life. For classes to fit in their schedule many students drive to the college campus. Students that drive to Yuba College presumably have a California drivers license and are familiar with the laws of the state pertaining to driving. What Yuba College students may not know is that the laws of the road apply in the parking lots of Yuba College

There are real concerns with the way people drive through the parking lots. According to the California Driver Handbook, drivers must respect the right of way of others by not violating traffic laws. Some students seem to disregard the state driving laws while on campus. Students have been seen driving around the speed bumps even though there is a long line of cars entering the West parking lot makes you wonder if they truly know the rules of the road. The speed bumps are there to force drivers to travel the minimum speed limit, increasing awareness and reaction time in the event of an emergency. Are you in that big of a hurry to get to a parking spot? There are plenty of them. Try using the spaces farthest from your classes. You possibly could use some much needed exercise. Try coming earlier for your classes to get that prime parking space, if it is that important to you.

Our West parking lot is set up to go One Way around the perimeter so that there are no head on collisions. The East Lot parking has only One Way to go since the parking spaces are on an angle. But inevitably, in the West Lot, there are some of you who spots a parking space in the next isle and turn right into oncoming traffic just so you can get to that spot faster. If the police had seen you they would have ticketed you faster than you could spit. One Way is going left. The signs are posted.

Students drive out of the parking lot like a bat out of hell, they are in as much of a hurry to get out as they were to get in. There have been some near collisions by inattentive or speeding drivers and it is through defensive driving of fellow students who are obeying that laws that have prevented these collisions.

The posted speed limits in the West Parking Lot are 15 mph in and 10 mph out. The non posted speed limit between parking spaces is 10 mph. The speed limit in the East Lot is 10mph. Speeding can cause an accident and if that happened you would end up late and without a vehicle. Think about your insurance going up if you get into an accident. Most insurance companies will rule both parties at fault, if that is the case, regardless of the cause. Can you afford it? Slow down.

Stop signs…means just that…STOP! Not yield, not slow down, not “It’s Okay to just drive on through”. You know who you are! Come to a complete Stop, count to three, look for oncoming traffic, and then proceed with caution. Think what would happen if you caused serious injury to another student, how would you feel?

Not just the drivers are getting the third degree, pedestrians are just as bad as the drivers. How many times have you walked out in front of a moving vehicle and the driver had to brake fast to

avoid hitting you. A 2 ton moving vehicle vs the average 150 lb person, it’s a no brainer who wins. If a drivers brakes fail at any particular time wouldn’t you hate to be the next Yuba College Speed Bump? Many pedestrians have been seen talking on cell phones, texting or just not looking as they cross from the campus side to the parking lot without regard to their own safety. Get off the phone and pay attention to your surroundings. STOP, LOOK and LISTEN!

Now that concerns about what is happening in the Parking Lots have been voiced, lets talk about parking lot etiquette. Drivers are surrounded by pedestrians. Most of the time, pedestrians are focused on their phones and friends and not on the driver. It is up to you, as a vehicle operator to look out for the pedestrians and give them the right of way. Sometimes a reminder, especially if someone crosses right in front of you, a little honk may let them know you are there. Courtesy goes both ways. The same applies to other drivers. Parking lot etiquette means you’re extra vigilant. The rules of the road apply in the parking lot. This means, keep right, obey all posted signs and speed limits and use your turn signal.

Having spoke to the campus police, they said it is hard to catch someone in the act of wrong doings. But they do stress they are watching and could at any moment cite you if you are breaking the law.

This article appeared in the Winter 2011 print edition.