Correction: The previous photo was removed because it made a staged photo of a parked car going in the wrong direction, seem as if the moment was a real occurrence.
Long Beach City College needs to address the directional lane issue at the Veterans Memorial Stadium parking lot by improving signs, repainting arrows and increasing self awareness because these changes can prevent confusion, reduce the risk of accidents and make the campus safer for students, staff and visitors.
Long Beach City College can fix the directional lane issue at Veterans Memorial Stadium by repainting the arrows so they are brighter, larger and easier for drivers to see.
The college needs to also add clear “One Way” “Do Not Enter” and “Wrong Way” signs near the entrances of the lanes so drivers understand the direction before turning in.
This solution is supported by the Federal Highway Administration, which explains that traffic control devices include signs and road markings that guide drivers and help direct traffic flow.
This matters because directional markings help drivers know where to go and help prevent traffic from moving against the intended flow.
Another solution would be for LBCC to place temporary cones or barriers in problem areas until drivers get used to following the proper flow of traffic.
Campus safety officers should also monitor the parking lot during busy times, especially before morning classes, after night classes and during athletic events.
This issue is important because the National Safety Council reports that tens of thousands of crashes happen in parking lots and parking structures every year, causing hundreds of deaths and thousands of injuries, although there have been no reports at Veterans Stadium parking.
This issue is important because parking lots are still traffic areas where crashes, blind spots and pedestrian safety concerns can happen, although the parking lot at Veterans Memorial Stadium can be empty at times throughout the day, wrong-way driving in a parking lane can cause confusion, sudden braking and near crashes because drivers going the correct way may not expect a car to come toward them.
LBCC should also send reminders through student email, social media and campus signs to remind students, staff and visitors to slow down and follow the arrows.
More clear traffic rules are especially important in a college parking lot because students, staff, athletes and visitors are often entering and leaving at the same time.
The college could also place extra warning signs near high-traffic areas where wrong-way driving happens most often.
Fixing the directional lane issue would make the Veterans Memorial Stadium parking lot safer, more organized and less stressful for the LBCC community.
In the end, following simple traffic markings may seem small, but they can prevent accidents and help everyone get in and out of campus safely.
