By Sophia Do
As the new school year kicks off, Fountain Valley High School is facing a traffic crisis that has led to delays and growing frustration among students, parents and staff, as congested streets lead to long days.
Every weekday has been a busy morning for the FVHS campus; the influx of vehicles that arrive at the school creates a bottleneck that extends well beyond the school’s boundaries. Cars are lined up for blocks as people try to navigate the busy intersection of Bushard and Slater, with student drop-offs adding to the usual rush-hour chaos.
Staff have been trying to clock in for work before students arrive, supervision has been regulating this stressful dynamic and parents have to persist with a long workday ahead of them. This problem emerges from a lack of parking spaces and inefficient traffic flow patterns.
The chaotic traffic scene impacts everyone involved in getting students to class as rush hour unfolds. Parents who drop off their children face many obstacles, as they navigate through the drop-off zones extending to the back of the FVHS tennis courts.
“I usually have to be in class by 8:30 a.m. so my parents leave around 30 minutes before to avoid traffic. Anytime later we would be stuck and I would have to be dropped off somewhere else,” junior Amy Nguyen said. “My parents have work after too so they try to get out of there fast; otherwise, I have to find my ride.”
As Nguyen expresses her morning routine, we can see that students who get dropped off have inconsistent dynamics and run into unpredictable issues every day.
“Usually kids try to get to their classes faster by getting dropped off at more convenient areas but that only slows down the flow for the rest of the traffic,” Kevin, a supervision staff member, said. “Also at the stoplight, students try to rush against the timer and block the pathway for drivers trying to cross.”
“I have to be there before students arrive so I have to wake up at 5 a.m. and leave by 6:30 a.m. to set up for class since I don’t teach zero period,” AP Biology teacher Emily Barro said.
Meanwhile, student drivers who attempt to arrive independently are also feeling the strain.
“I leave my house around 45 minutes before school starts because I live far away and there’s a bunch of other schools on the way. I also have to wait longer for multiple turn lights due to the line of cars,” senior Athena Tran said. “I only make it on time because I leave early enough and have been in multiple accidents because I was in such a rush.”
Many parents also expressed concerns about the safety of students walking and biking in the area, as the situation worsens each school day. They are worried that the attitude of drivers in the morning may cause their child to be involved in an accident; however, staff on campus have been working on this issue, as supervision has been assisting students in crossing the street and regulating sidewalk traffic.
“I live very close to the school, so my walk is usually short, but I see parent drivers are usually very impatient in the morning, especially in the small neighborhoods, [making] their driving more reckless,” junior Eric Tran said. “I recommend walking to anyone who lives near the school because it’s a cheat code around traffic.”
“I have a zero hybrid period, so there isn’t too much traffic. But on days without a zero, there are so many cars [that] biking helps a lot,” senior Benjamin Woo said. “I mainly do it for the sake of convenience so my parents don’t get annoyed taking me through traffic every morning.”
This widespread impact of traffic at FVHS underscores the need for effective solutions. As each group deals with their frustrations, it becomes increasingly clear that addressing these challenges is crucial for restoring a smoother start to the day.
Whether it’s improved traffic management or alternative drop-off strategies, finding a resolution would reduce stress and ensure students can focus on their education rather than navigating through a chaotic commute.
