Accidents and school traffic continue from last year, despite parking lot renovation, patrols and the issuing of tickets by school resource officer John Midiros.

Last year, due to 50 less parking spots, cars were allowed to park in no-parking spots without being ticketed. Attempting to see around a parked car while pulling out into the main parking lot lane, senior Cassie Gerhart t-boned a parent during seminar.

“I probably should have looked a little closer but the car being parked there blocked my vision,” Gerhart said.

Gerhart’s 2001 Volkswagon Jetta Turbo had limited damage but caused the parent’s car around $500 in damage. Gerhart’s insurance also doubled.

This year, Midiros will issue tickets to anyone parking in a no-parking space.

Midiros issues about 30 tickets a year for parking and traffic violations.

In the spring and summer of 2011, an additional small parking lot will be built near the north activity center on the gravel lot construction workers used to park in.

“It will give additional parking spaces which is always an issue,” district director of safety Jack Deyoe said.

Deyoe, who continually looks for safety improvements for schools in the district, says additional marked crosswalks, signs and sidewalks will be built in the coming spring and summer but no other major changes are expected for future years.

An average of 15-20 accidents happen in the school parking lot every year.

This year, Midiros says traffic accidents have persisted at the same rate as in years past.

Sophomore Jillian Mullin and senior Jessica Lopez were in an accident in November.

Mullin was rear ended by Lopez waiting to turn left at the traffic lot by the parking lot’s south exit, nearest to Monticello Trails Middle School.

“She wasn’t expecting me to slam on my brakes,” Mullin said. “She wasn’t ready for it to happen and paying attention at all times would have prevented it.”

Around $1,500 in damage was done to Mullin’s 2010 Mazda 3, paid for by Lopez’s insurance.

“I knew instantly it was my fault and I was scared because I already had a lot on my plate and this would be another money issue,” Lopez said. “I’m just really careful now and always aware of what I’m doing.”

Mullin believes distractions like loud music and texting and driving can easily stray any driver’s attention.

“Driving in general is a privilege and we shouldn’t take advantage of it,” Mullin said.

With around 600 students, teachers and parents exiting everyday, accidents are inevitable.

“There is just no good way to mass exit,” Midiros said. “What’s unique to us is that the middle school is right next to us and gets five minutes after us. That’s a lot of people you’re trying to get out in two exits.”

Despite some continuing problems, Midiros is still positive about the traffic situation.

“We’ve had our share of accidents, but we do a fairly good job of exiting safely,” Midiros said. “We could do a better job at slowing down, being more courteous to other drivers and being patient.”

To improve traffic conditions,Mullin believes separate exits for the middle school and high school along with additional stop signs would ease traffic in the parking lot.

“If we had some sort of 4-way stop, it would help because it’s not guaranteed that someone is going to let you go,” Mullin said.

Deyoe says patience is the most important way to insure safety in a parking lot.

“Nobody’s time is worth any more than the next person,” Deyoe said. “Nobody’s time is worth someone getting hurt.”