Blue Ridge Middle School Traffic

To our parents,

As a member of our community, I also understand the frustrations with morning and afternoon school traffic. In my many years of directing traffic at Mountain View, I saw how important it was that all drivers fully understand how and why regarding traffic. In many cases this helps people to see things from a different perspective and understand why things are done a certain way. I ask that you first understand that there is only so much that can be done in making school traffic less frustrating due to the limitations of space, man power, and the number of cars each day. Please take a minute to look over these suggestions and explanations that may assist you in transit to and from Blue Ridge Middle School. I have also added some Traffic laws to further assist you.

Morning drop off:

Please understand that B.R.M.S has two lanes in the front area for cars to drop off students.
Please understand that carpooling and earlier arrival times can alleviate some congestion.
.No student should be dropped off prior to 0730.
Please leave early enough to safely drop your students off. (Being in a hurry opens the door for traffic violations and safety concerns).
Please leave all bad attitudes and anger at home. (This does not belong behind the wheel of a vehicle).
Be patient and courteous to others.
Please understand that there are a large number of vehicles trying to enter and exit a narrow area.
Please allow vehicles to exit the school. (If they can’t get out, you can’t get in).
Please ensure that your child is ready to exit the vehicle upon arrival.
Please ensure that your child knows to only cross the parking lot from the outer lane after traffic has stopped.
Be mindful of students and faculty walking across the traffic lanes.
Please be alert and cut out any distractions during student arrivals or departures. (Cell phones make up, etc).
Do not leave large gaps in between vehicles upon arrival or departure. (This is a waste of valuable space that could be used to allow other vehicles in).
Do not stop short of the far cones or the vehicle in front of you. (Stopping short leaves a lot of space in front of you that would allow others to get on the property).
Follow direction of faculty or staff in regards to offloads or departures of students.
Please use turn signals to indicate your intended actions. (Failure to use them is not only unlawful but can cause miscommunication).
Follow all traffic laws when operating a motor vehicle.

Afternoon pick up:

Please be alert, patient, and respectful to all parties when arriving at B.R.M.S traffic pick up. (Get rid of all distractions).
Sixth and seventh grade students will be available for pick up in front of the school.
Eighth grade students will be available for pick up in the lower parking area. (Near the ball field).
During times of inclement weather or other Administrator designation all students will be picked up in front of the school.
Please ensure that your child understands the importance of clearing the large number of vehicles through the parking lot in a timely manner. (Students not looking for their ride can cause long pauses in traffic flow.
DO NOT park in areas unsafe to park or that are designated” No Parking”.
Please do not block the roadway, side streets, driveways, turning lanes, and parked vehicles.
There are two lanes being utilized in both pick up areas.
Do not park in the middle area of these lanes. (This is an exit for vehicles that have picked up their riders).
During pick up please remember to not leave large gaps between vehicles. (This is wasted space that could be used to get more vehicles on the property).
Be cautious and aware of vehicles making left hand turns.
Please allow drivers in the lower parking lot to exit. (If drivers do not allow them to exit, it will quickly hold up traffic in all directions).
Do not cut in front of other vehicles that are in line. (This opens the door for problems and is very rude).
All students will get into vehicles on school property, this is for their safety.
Please do not tell your children to come to your vehicle by crossing the roadway. Please be patient and pick them up on school property.
Please come all the way up to the last cones or the vehicle in front of you up front before picking up your child.
Please do not load your child without filling available space in front of you.
Please use turn signals to indicate your intended actions. (Failure to use them is not only unlawful but can cause miscommunication).
Do not park on the side of the road directly in front of the school during student arrivals or departures.
Leave room for school buses to enter and exit the loading area.
Do not park in the bus parking area to pick up students.
Follow all traffic laws when operating a motor vehicle.

South Carolina Traffic Laws

Section 56-5-7 SECTION 56-5-740. Obedience to authorized persons directing traffic.

No person shall willfully fail or refuse to comply with any lawful order or direction of any police officer, fireman or uniformed adult school crossing guard invested by law with authority to direct, control or regulate traffic.

SECTION 56-5-1930. Following too closely.

(a) The driver of a motor vehicle shall not follow another vehicle more closely than is reasonable and prudent, having due regard for the speed of such vehicles and the traffic upon and the condition of the highway.

SECTION 56-5-2140. Limitations on turning around.

(a) The driver of any vehicle shall not turn such vehicle so as to proceed in the opposite direction unless such movement can be made in safety and without interfering with other traffic.

SECTION 56-5-2150. Turning movements and required signals.

(a) No person shall turn a vehicle or move right or left upon a roadway unless and until such movement can be made with reasonable safety nor without giving an appropriate signal as provided for in this section.

SECTION 56-5-2310. Vehicles approaching or entering intersection.

(a) When two vehicles approach or enter an intersection from different highways at approximately the same time, the driver of the vehicle on the left shall yield the right-of-way to the vehicle on the right.

SECTION 56-5-2320. Vehicle turning left.

The driver of a vehicle intending to turn to the left within an intersection or into an alley, private road or driveway shall yield the right-of-way to any vehicle approaching from the opposite direction which is within the intersection or so close thereto as to constitute an immediate hazard.

SECTION 56-5-2770. school buses; meeting, overtaking and passing school bus; loading passengers along multi-lane highways.

(A) The driver of a vehicle meeting or overtaking from either direction a school bus stopped on a highway or private road must stop before reaching the bus where there are in operation on the bus flashing red lights specified in State Department of Education Regulations and Specifications Pertaining to School Buses, and the driver must not proceed until the bus resumes motion or the flashing red lights are no longer actuated.

SECTION 56-5-2920. Reckless driving;

Any person who drives any vehicle in such a manner as to indicate either a wilful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property is guilty of reckless driving.

SECTION 56-5-1520. Speeding in a school zone;

It is unlawful for persons to exceed the speed limit within a school zone.

SECTION 56-5-3822. Opening vehicle doors.

No person shall open any door of a motor vehicle unless it is reasonably safe to do so, and can be done without interfering with the movement of other traffic, nor shall any person leave a door open on the side of a vehicle available to moving traffic for a period of time longer than necessary to load or unload passengers.

SECTION 56-5-3900. Transportation of minors in open vehicles. (Truck bed)

(A) It is unlawful to transport a person under fifteen years of age in the open bed or open cargo area of a pickup truck or trailer. An open bed or open cargo area is a bed or cargo area without permanent overhead restraining construction. See subsection.

SECTION 57-7-210. Obstructions on highways.

It shall be unlawful for any person willfully to obstruct ditches and drainage openings along any highway, to place obstructions upon any such highway or to throw or place on any such highway any objects likely to cut or otherwise injure vehicles using them. (This includes vehicles blocking traffic).

Reminder from the School Officer

Please remember that with your help we can make school traffic safer and less frustrating. I also ask that you understand that if drivers act selfishly or try to cut corners regarding school traffic by not following direction, it causes problems for others and can easily create safety concerns. Because I cannot be everywhere at once, I can only ask that drivers be patient, follow the schools transportation guidelines, and Treat others in a manner that you would want to be treated. With the large amount of traffic during afternoon pick up, it is crucial that all persons understand and work with us. This will assist in reducing unnecessary problems with traffic during transition times. I welcome any questions or concerns that you may have with school traffic.

Thank you,

Master Deputy, James Massey
jmassey@greenville.k12.sc.us