By Kayla Carino

SAN JOSE, CALIF.— Silver Creek students, parents, and staff all report of traffic problems while driving to campus. 

Traffic has caused a significant amount of students and staff to be late to school. And this leads to them missing out on important class time. Students miss parts of their lessons and quizzes. Staff lose time to teach their students. 

What are the causes of traffic on the way to Silver Creek? A lot of people drive to school at the same time. This includes both students and staff. For example, many students are trying to arrive to class at either 8:30 am or 9:30 am. So there are many cars on the road at those times. Phantom traffic, where one car slows, causing all the cars behind it to slow down, causes traffic as well. Distracted driving and bad weather are also factors.

Catherine Ha, a student at Silver Creek high school says that, “Traffic is a very big problem. It causes students to be late to class which isn’t some student’s faults.”And although Ha herself does not struggle with traffic she always leaves her house early for school just in case.

Katie Newray, a teacher at Silver Creek, also says that the traffic driving to campus is a big problem. It has made her late on numerous occasions since she can’t get to a parking spot. And in her words this traffic is because, “Drivers often are unaware of the people around them. Stopping in the middle of a lane, parking in red zones, and sit for way longer than necessary blocking traffic.”

“Traffic is always going to be a problem.” says Newray. “But if we had someone who could go out and help direct parents, families, students, and teachers, I think that it could help alleviate the problem.”

Here are some ways to avoid traffic. 

• First, you can and drive at an earlier time
• You can try alternate routes to your destination
• Follow traffic reports
• Drive responsibly
• Pay attention to red lights
• Do not use your phone or any other devices while on the road
• Check a weather app or the news to see if there will be bad weather
• Be mindful of other drivers
• Pay attention to road signs and traffic lights
• Check the speed limit