CHARLOTTE, N.C. — CMS students don't go back to school until next week, but the Crossroads Charter School on North Tryon Street is already open. Teachers and parents there are concerned about student safety because people aren't slowing down in the school zone.
As hundreds of drivers were rushing to work Monday morning, students at Crossroads Charter School were trying to get to class.
Eyewitness News watched dozens get off the city bus; several were crossing a busy section of North Tryon. Students said they would have to walk another block to find a crosswalk.
Corey Adams is a senior at the school. He said he takes the bus every day and has to cross the street when he is heading home.
Eyewitness News was there Friday afternoon as well, even before rush hour, and traffic was busy.
Adams said it is scary because one of his classmates was injured when a car hit her last year.
"It was tragic for all of us," he said.
"I'm just fearful more children are going to get hit," said Barbara Miller, from the Crossroads Charter School.
The school and police said it has become a real problem.
"We're at a loss of what to do now," said Miller.
The area is already marked as a school zone, and there are flashing lights. When the lights near the school are flashing, drivers are supposed to be going 25 miles per hour but police said they have seen people going not only 45, which is the normal speed limit, but sometimes 50 miles per hour.
"We've got some signage out. We've tried the radar trailer. In a couple weeks if we don't get voluntary compliance, we're going to have to start stepping up enforcement of the school zone," said Lt. Jeff Harless, with CMPD.
Harless said that will mean officers on motorcycles out at the school, patrolling and handing out tickets.
"We're trying to get ahead of this before something worse happens," said Harless.
Parents dropping their children off said they hope drivers pay attention.
"They need to think about their own children and how they would want other drivers to slow down for their children," said Suszet Parker, a parent.
WSOC
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