With the volume of traffic at the high school during that time frame, the PD should assign officers to direct traffic. It's a free for all, with people cutting each other off and ignoring stop signs

First I am glad the student only had minor injuries and wish her all the best.
Amazing how quickly Schilder is to differ the blame for this incident on the police department. Let me point out that if a hazardious situation exists that it is up to the School Administration to address the situation. In this case, Mr. Schilder, you should have requested a crossing guard or appointed an administrator or teacher to oversee this crosswalk. Also, how will the school handle this girl's unexcused absences be handled under the new attendance policy.

Raise the driver license eligibility to age 18 and attainable after graduation. No graduation no license.
Giving a driver's license to a 17 year old is a not well-reasoned desision.

I too am grateful the student had only minor injuries. Sorry; not Dr. Schilder or the administration's fault. I know of a student who, a number of years ago received a ticket for crossing in that area; no crosswalk. A police officer nearby wrote the ticket. She challenged the ticket and a crosswalk with blinking lights was installed. Since that time, more and more students have parking permits at the YMCA. Was the student in the crosswalk or did she dart into traffic? Doesn't matter; we are just all relieved she is okay. Was the driver distracted by the incredible amount of traffic and people? Doesn't matter; I am sure they feel terrible that they hit a child. Would a crossing guard have prevented the accident? Hard to say; the way it is during drop off and pick up I can't believe a crossing guard would be safe either. They need a cop. I am sure though, that it will be handled promptly as we all have our children't best interests. I'm sure her absence will be excused with a doctor's note.

The above comment by Dan O'Leary is right on. I drove my kids to the HS for years and he is correct. It's simple, the PD should be out there each morning controlling the situation. There are a heck of a lot of cars and pedestrians in a very confined area. There is a real free for all - anything goes - mind set that's only getting worse. I also agree with IonU - it's Schilder's responsibility to make it safe. Another BR BOE dropped ball.

The kids who park at the YMCA are not part of the BR BOE responsibility. Those kids (parents) pay a lot of money to park at the YMCA parking lot.
I find it interesting that last year police were not allowing parents to park and pick up their kids 5 minutes before school dismissed because they were parking in fire zones. Why can’t the police direct traffic for 20 minutes from 7am -7:20 am at that intersection?

New Jersey drivers are not very aware that stopping for pedestrians in the cross walk is a law. I see it happen in neighborhoods, downtown, etc. I'd start handing out tickets for not yielding to people at once verses a crossing guard.

Every school day for 4 years I worried that my child would be the one injured or killed walking to BRHS. On days when I drove her there, what I witnessed was complete chaos. It all happens in a span of 20 minutes.  It was OBVIOUS that all the situation needs is an officer directing traffic. Instead, I saw BUS DRIVERS directing traffic from their seats. 

If only registered seniors drove to school and all other student ride the buses as provided by the taxes we pay, then there would be no students crossing Garretson Rd from the YMCA. The school provides safe transportation, although for many seniors the walk from the senior lot is "too far" so they opt to pay extra and park at the Y. Or, for of age juniors "the bus isn't cool" so they opt to pay extra and park at the Y.

I feel for the students involved in the accident, but many must realize that safe transportation is provided and much of the extra traffic in front of the school is due to families opting out of the school provided transportation.

For years, my neighbor and I tried to get the town, the school and the police to fix this problem. We went to innumerable town and board of ed meetings. I have reels of videotape documenting the hazard and a box full of documentation proving that this town had full notice of this problem years ago. They put in the blinking light due to our efforts, but it was always apparent that a light alone could not solve the problem.

It’s primarily a new administration now in both the school and the town. Perhaps this administration will have the courage to get the police out for the 20 minutes in the morning and the 20 minutes in the afternoon, (to both enforce and help the kids cross), to solve this problem for good.

(And in response to the teacher's comment above - that is not true - many children live across the street from the school including mine, and others don't live far enough to get a bus. Even more have activities at the Y and at the tennis and golf course. Let's get this problem solved.)

I am also grateful the injuries were minor.
A few comments I would like to add.
1. The Y charges an incredibly inflated fee for anyone willing to pay, let them hire the officer.
2. There is at least 1 officer out there in the afternoon, so why not in the morning too?
3. There are some that take the attitude that as a pedestrian they have the right of way and will step in the street without looking or be busy with their nose in the phone. This may not have been the case this time but I have seen it happen. Everyone needs to be careful, just because you have the right of way (as a pedestrian or as a vehicle) doesn't mean you should throw logic out the window.

The danger in front of the high school goes beyond students crossing from the YMCA. There are also pedestrians crossing Garretson Rd. near the tennis courts, and crossing the high school driveways. There is a large volume of traffic, with many vehicles turning into and out of the front and back loops of the high school, as well as Vorhees Ln. and the YMCA parking lot. The height of the 50 or so buses passing through the area severely limits visibility of the other drivers. There has been at least one other pedestrian accident in the past, in addition to several fender benders. I agree that pedestrians have a responsibility to look out for their own safety. The high school (maybe the SRO?) used to convey safety information to the students, reminding them to only cross in marked crosswalks, etc. I don't know if they're still doing that. But the drivers also need to be educated/reminded to obey traffic laws (such as yielding to pedestrians in a crosswalk). The only way to reach drivers is through police presence and enforcement, which is the responsibility of the town since it's a municipal roadway. There is an officer there in the afternoon, but only to stop traffic long enough to let the buses exit the school property. I've seen the officer, and the school administration, stand by and watch as students cross Garretson Rd. without using the crosswalk or the pedestrian activated signal. Engineering alone in not enough. Education and enforcement are essesntial.

People need to slow down. It is a nightmare at that school in the mornings. Everyone is rude and obnoxious . What happened to common courtisy?

I'm very happy that the student is not seriously injured.

As a parent of three children who've either gone to the high school or who are currently in it, I can tell you that I won't even go near BRHS in the morning. It's insane. Everyone is rushing, there's buses with limited view, kids everywhere. The only time I'm there (RARE) is if my child missed the bus or needs before school help. Other than that, I stay FAR FAR away.

Just for curiosity, why are students parking in the YMCA? It's a benefit of YMCA membership? It's cheaper than the $100 BRHS charges? Juniors of driving age are parking there?

What we need to teach our kids is that just because you are in a crosswalk, it doesn't mean that the driver will stop. You must make eye contact with driver(s) to make sure you (they) see each other. And continue to look as you cross. Also, it isn't that New Jersey drivers are unaware they need to stop, it is that some choose NOT to stop. This needs to be enforced (as well as "jaywalking").

A study done in 2005 might not be valid today, there could be many changes in demographics. But, do we really need a study (or a child killed) to get an officer there? How much does that cost for 2 or so hours a day (am/pm)?

Interesting question. Who pays the officer who's there in the afternoon to let the buses out?

The high school is a highly congested unsafe area every school day... difficult to enter and difficult to exit .. forget more traffic studies now going on for over 7 years .. we need traffic lights for both the high school entrances and exits and one of the traffic lights servicing the YMCA and in the meantime the police department should be out of cars and directing traffic ... later crossing guards trained to direct traffic while we wait for traffic lights which seem to take years to get in Bridgewater

Did anyone mention that the driver was also texting at the time. Bottom line...it is everyone's problem, it is everyone's fault. Quit pointing the finger, volunteer to be the crossing guard and we won't have to pay anyone or shell out precious tax payer dollars. If there is a "lot monitor" he is invisible, because hanging in your car, leaving the school grounds, etc is the norm. It is impossible to "monitor" the lot. Install a light that will only operate during school hours, just as a control measure. Hell, they just put up lights at the corner of Foothill and Mine and the only time they are needed is in the afternoon rush hour. They have something like 6 different lights there...seriously???

I don't think you can volunteer as a crossing guard for liability reasons. That would be a question for the police.

Drivers in Bridgewater are pretty bad. Stop signs ignored, speeding through residential streets etc. Those same people teach their kids to drive. Bad habits get passed down. Drivers and pedestrians need to be extra careful. Even if you have the “right of way” there are plenty of idiots still out there. Bridgewater PD does a good job around the high school. There is an officer there during dismissal. An occasional patrol on a school day morning should be enough to slow people down and get the YMCA parkers to stop jaywalking.

Welcome to New Jersey - where the taxes are high, problems are many, and the government totally unresponsive. I've lived in other parts of the country and solving a problem like this was a non-issue.