Parents of students at two West Philadelphia schools say changes need to be made at a dangerous intersection. They say drivers on Girard Avenue near Blankenburg Elementary School and Global Leadership Academy Charter School are putting their children in jeopardy. According to parents, many of the drivers who pass the intersection don’t obey traffic signs, speed, run red lights and don’t slow down in school zones as their kids walk home in the afternoon.
“They ignore the lights, like the lights aren’t even there,” said one parent. “They speed around the bus.”
Police currently have an extra patrol car in the area. Wary of the hazardous conditions, many of the parents walk with their children to and from school rather than allow them to travel alone. Last month, a 9-year-old girl was hit by a car on Merion Avenue, just around the corner from the two schools. The impact threw the girl off her bike and sent her to the hospital.
“I’ve already had one young lady, one of my staff members hit by a car,” said Dr. Naomi Johnson-Booker, the CEO of Global Leadership Academy.
Booker says the crossing guard at the intersection is not supposed to stay for their dismissal but does so anyway on his own time. But despite his noble efforts, Booker also believes more needs to be done. She plans to request that an additional crossing guard be assigned to the area.
