Malaysians Criticise Parents Driving Kids To School And Causing Traffic Congestion
Some parents even park their cars in the middle of the road.
By Sadho Ram — 03 May 2024, 11:31 AM
Social media users are urging parents to be more consideratewhen dropping off their kids at school to avoid adding to traffic congestion
Many Malaysians complained that some parents take their time during school pick-up and drop-off hours, resulting in traffic congestion for others, reported the New Straits Times.
One such individual said he now uses a motorcycle to avoid getting stuck in traffic caused by parents driving their kids to school. He also noted that some parents park right in front of the school gates.
"There are so many parents like this. Now I ride a motorcycle. If I choose to drive, I will park my car further away and walk. Some parents even park their motorcycles in front of the school gate, making it difficult for students to get through. It's as if they're the only ones with a child," he complained on X, formerly Twitter.
Meanwhile, another individual pointed out that some parents double-park their cars in the middle of the road while waiting for their children to enter the school gates, reported Berita Harian.
"There are parents who double-park, leaving their cars in the middle of the road.
"They carry their child's bag, walk them to the school gate, say a few words, hug and kiss them, then wait until their child is out of sight before getting back in the car and driving off," he said, adding that these long goodbyes contribute significantly to traffic congestion during school drop-off hours.
One person said that while these elaborate goodbyes are heartwarming, they create frustration for others because of the resulting traffic congestion
Some also proposed solutions to the problem
A Shah Alam resident said the issue can be solved if parents set a better example.
"If you see someone doing that in front, just drop off your child behind them. That way, you won't have to queue to drop off your child," he said in response to another netizen, who noted that inconsiderate parking by parents near schools turns two-way lanes into one-way roads.
Meanwhile, another individual believes that schools should take more initiative.
She described a system at her child's school where teachers enforced a one-minute drop-off window with guards on duty to ensure compliance. This system, she said, significantly reduced congestion.
Parents parking their cars in the middle of the road causes traffic congestion during school drop-off hours.
Image via New Straits Times