As 1st day of class approaches, police in Mass. town ask parents not to drive children to school

Christine McCarthy,Frank O'Laughlin
·3 min read

Police in Belmont are urging parents not to drive their kids to school and instead to send them by bus or walk with them.

Chief James MacIsaac said in a letter to parents Tuesday that his department receives complaints each year from all six schools in town involving heavy traffic, driving violations and concerns about pedestrian safety during pick-up and drop-off. Most of the violators are parents, he said.

“With the beginning first day of school on September 6th, I hope you will all consider not driving your children to school,” MacIsaac wrote. “The parking lots of the Belmont Public Schools and the roads around them are not conducive to the amount of motor vehicle traffic that occurs around start time and the end of the school day.”

Police expect additional challenges this year at Belmont Middle and High School as well as Wellington Elementary and Burbank Elementary due to new traffic patterns and construction in the area.

One of Trish and Paul Kapur’s sons will take the bus next year, while their younger son will walk to school with his parents. The Kapurs have seen the heavy congestion on streets around the town’s schools and agree safety is a concern.

“We’re fortunate to live within distance to the elementary school, but it is dangerous walking. People do a lot of things in the morning rush to get to school, drop their kids quick and get home,” Trish Kapur said. “Kids get excited. They want to run into school, and cars are driving by, and that’s when things can happen.”

Police encourage those who must drive to park a block away and walk with their kids to school.

“I know, and can certainly appreciate, that many of you have no other option but to drive your child to school. If you must drive and drop your child off at school, please be aware of and obey all parking restrictions, traffic laws, and School Crossing Guards,” MacIsaac said. “Parents who must drive their children should exercise patience and consideration to pedestrians and other motorists while driving on Belmont roads.”

Sarah Brooks has a middle-schooler who will ride her bicycle or walk to school and two elementary school students whom she will drive to school next year simply because they are not eligible for bus service after moving neighborhoods. But when she drives, she already parks a good distance from school.

“[The kids] always want me to park super close, and I always say, ‘Nope, we’re just going to leave the car here and walk,’” Brooks said. “I know which ways to go and not to go and leave extra time so we’re not in a rush. We go different ways around town that are less congested.”

Crossing guards are slated to be stationed at the following locations this school year:

  • School/Sharpe

  • Baker/Concord

  • Underwood/Concord

  • School/Washington

  • Oakley/Washington

  • Common/Washington

  • Common/Orchard

  • Cottage/School

  • Cross/Middlecot

  • Hawthorne/Trapelo

  • Beech/White

  • Beech/Maple

  • Sycamore/White

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