The incident that happened to my son still echoes in my mind. The worse phone call a parent can get.  A freshman at Abraham Lincoln High, he was struck by a car while trying to cross Park & Magnolia intersection along with his football teammate. (His friend was lucky enough to not be hit/harmed.) The day was already dark due to daylight saving, making the school zone crosswalk completely invisible. Every day, several students from Merritt Trace Elementary, Herbert Hoover Middle, and Abraham Lincoln High have to cross this treacherous intersection alone, once the crossing guards are done for the day. 

My son had minor injuries. With head, neck & back pain from breaking windshield with his head. Along with hip pain from being stuck from the side. We are lucky it wasn’t worse. But, a smaller child wouldn’t have been so lucky. 

It's high time we insisted on better safety measures in our community for our children. We demand the implementation of In-roadway Warning Lights (IRWLs) at the school zone crosswalks along Park Ave, specifically Magnolia and Calaveras intersections. These lights can significantly increase crosswalk visibility, reducing accidents by up to 82%, according to a 2018 study by the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Alabama. 

Moreover, we advocate for Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFBs) and flashing pedestrian signs to draw drivers' attention to the presence of crossing pedestrians. We, additionally, need more street lights to illuminate sidewalks to ensure pedestrians and school children are visible when the sun goes down. Also, regular tree trimming is necessary to keep small crosswalk signs visible at all times. 

Our children's safety should be the paramount concern. Please show your support in making change happen by signing this petition. Our students, our children, deserve safe crossings. Stand with us in our demand for safer intersections on Park Ave for our children.