City Councilor Kristen Strezo has raised the alarm over the potentially dangerous violation of the No Left Turn signage at the Somerville High School exit on Highland Ave. and Vinal Ave. — Photo by Bobbie Toner

By Harry Kane

Drivers who are dropping off and picking up kids at the Somerville High School have been taking a left turn onto Highland Avenue when exiting the school, which is dangerous, says City Councilor Kristen E. Strezo.

An order was put forward during the January 9 City Council meeting requesting the chief of police, the director of parking and the director of mobility discuss the previous and ongoing strategy for implementation and public education of drivers violating the No Left Turn signage at the Somerville High School exit on Highland Avenue and Vinal Avenue.

“This is another dangerous, dangerous situation that drives me bananas,” said Councilor Strezo.

No Left Turn signs are regulatory signs that indicate that left turns are prohibited. There are two No Left Turn signs posted at the exit of the driveway of the high school.

Every school day, drivers drop off and pick up students, but motorists haven’t been obeying the No Left Turn signs when exiting the driveway of the high school, explained Councilor Strezo. 

“Every single driver, pretty much consistently, ignores this and takes a left. There is no traffic patrol…no repercussions,” says Councilor Strezo.

When disobeying the signage and turning left, motorists are driving onto a crosswalk on Highland Avenue where kids could be crossing.

“It’s a perfect recipe for a fatality or an injury,” Councilor Strezo said.

School hours are 7:55 a.m. to 2:32 p.m. except on Wednesdays when dismissal is at 1:33 p.m.

Councilor Strezo says one solution could be a patrol officer monitoring the intersection at the time of pick up and drop off.

“We may need an officer there,” Councilor Strezo said in a phone interview. “I will leave it at the behest of the police chief and traffic control to determine that.”

When exiting the high school, drivers can go straight or take a right turn – they have options, so taking a left turn is the wrong choice, she explained.

At the current time, there are no crossing guards at the intersection during pick up or drop off times at the high school, Councilor Strezo said.

“There is a massive crossing guard shortage,” Councilor Strezo said. “We are way understaffed with crossing guards.”

A crossing guard at the congested intersection may be another potential solution to prevent the drivers from turning left onto Highland Avenue.

“There has to be better protection of pedestrians in this region,” Councilor Strezo said.