Tips for Century Drivers

Photo Credit: Wylder Gray

Lately local news stations, such as KPTV, have dedicated quite a lot of their broadcast time to covering incidents involving parking fines, car accidents, and crosswalks.

One event that has been broadcasted quite frequently in the past week involves PBOT, or Portland’s Bureau of Transportation. PBOT has dealt with the issue of car owners not paying parking fees or tickets for the past decade. In an attempt to combat this issue, PBOT has come up with a new plan of action.

This plan involves putting parking boots on cars who have not paid their parking tickets, making the car immobile. The owner then has a full 36 hours to pay (or set up a payment plan to pay) their dues.

When the ticket is paid, the boot will be removed within the hour. If the ticket is not paid within the 36 hours, the car will be towed. This plan works on fixing the issue of unpaid parking tickets as well as trying to save drivers from paying the towing bill.

Another event that has been popular in local news involves Centennial High School in Portland.

Last year alone a series of students were hit by cars while attempting to cross the same crosswalk near Centennial High School. This year, in order to prevent more accidents, the city of Portland installed rapid-flash safety lights at the crosswalk.

These signs have helped remind drivers to slow down and be aware of students crossing the street, and so far no additional incidents have been reported.

With this influx in car related incidents, it seemed like an appropriate time to provide a series of tips to help Century drivers be prepared and continue to be responsible.

#1. Go the speed limit, especially in school zones.

As the stories above have conveyed, car related incidents are more populous in school zones, going the speed limit can help prevent accidents, but also help decrease the chance of being pulled over and being fined - and in school zones, these fines double.

#2. Be respectful and responsible when exiting the parking lot.

At the end of the school day everyone is tired, everyone is irritable, and everyone just wants to get home. Cutting off a car isn’t going to get you home any faster in the grand scheme of things, and it definitely isn’t worth risking the accident. Be patient and drive safely.

#3. Put the phone away.

If you haven’t already balled your eyes out over public service announcements in the past, here’s your wake-up call. With all this new technology, it can be hard to put the phone down. But Spotify, Instagram, and Snapchat can wait. A 10 second video with the bee filter isn’t worth dying or killing over, is it?

#4. Limit your passengers.

While driving with all your friends can be a good time, studies show that the more teenage passengers there are in a car, the more likely there will be an accident. If that isn’t incentive enough, Oregon law also limits the number of passengers who are under the age of 20 and are not part of your immediate family to three for the first year you have your license.

#5. Apply for a parking sticker.

By purchasing a parking sticker from the attendance office, you have the right to park on campus. You could face some serious consequences - as serious as getting towed - if you are caught without it. Along with purchasing a parking sticker, place the parking sticker on the front windshield, as the back windshield isn’t checked.

#6. Park in the North Parking lot.

The South Parking Lot is reserved for faculty and guests. In years past, teachers’ cars have been hit by students who were in a hurry. Be respectful to your teachers and Charlie and park in the North Parking Lot.

#7. If you don’t have a parking spot, get to school early.

If you do not have a reserved parking spot, parking can be a major headache. Getting out of the far half of the parking lot can be a challenge at the end of the day, especially if you have to make a left turn. Getting to school early to get a good spot or leaving once the chaos is over are good ways of avoiding the circus, and an accident.

#8.Prepare an emergency kit.

While emergency kits might seem a little paranoid, it is important to always be prepared for any situation such as your car breaking down, running out of gas, or your windows being too icy to drive. Jumper cables, a window scraper, a first aid kit, a few tools, a snack, and toilet paper make for the beginnings of a great emergency kit. So what if it’s a little paranoid? You can never be too prepared.

As a driver, it is incredibly important to be responsible, respectful, and prepared while driving, whether that be for yourself, your passengers, or pedestrians. Century drivers, all in all, are pretty safe - and we’d like to keep it that way.