Starting in January, there will be new traffic flow regulations for the back parking lots. The reason being to boost driver safety, according to Principal Gary Shafferman. There have been a number of near collisions—and a few small collisions—due to the lack of traffic guidance, so a new plan for drivers will be implemented after holiday break. Although this may not speed up traffic, Shafferman said that he hopes it will prevent more accidents from occurring.

“[Traffic] just became too chaotic,” Shafferman said. “So we’re making some adjustments.”

Buses will now be required to enter from Waketon and exit on Dixon, and parents will no longer be allowed to drop off behind the school—only on the side of the school by the band hall. Dropping off and picking up of freshmen students will be strictly done at MHS9, and if you park in the back lot from behind the cafeteria to Dixon, entry and exit must be done through Dixon.

Senior Avery Helms said that this plan is a good idea, and will hopefully speed up the traffic flow as well as make it safer.

“I think that’s a good idea because it gets really jammed, especially back here in this band hall area,” Helms said. “I think it’ll just really help the flow of students.”

According to Shafferman this traffic flow plan will be implemented now as a “stopgap,” regulating the traffic until summer. While there are no solid plans yet, it is confirmed that the back parking lot will be redone this summer. Shafferman said it will “logically” be done by mid-July.

“I think it needs some construction [by the Waketon entrance],” Helms said. “That’s probably … where traffic stops the most.”

Although this new plan may not speed up traffic, it will make things more orderly. Many students have expressed their opinions on the hectic and disorderly traffic, but student safety is the primary concern at this time.

“I just want it to be safe,” Shafferman said. “When you have … let’s just say a thousand cars all trying to get out at the same time, it tends to be slow.”