BY KATIE GAISER
Lions’ Pride Layout Editor

The first time I pulled into the turning lane to enter Saint Leo University’s main entrance, I sat there for about 5-10 minutes at least. I remember this because my parents were driving in the car behind me and started to honk after I didn’t turn for so long. The truth is, I was afraid to turn because I couldn’t judge the speed of the cars coming at me, or see them very well for that matter. I still feel the same way about that turn, except now there’s about 10 feet of foliage sitting out there blocking my view even farther, which is just lovely might I add because I can barely see over the wheel as it is.

There are many unsafe things about State Road 52 and the entrances to our campus. However, let me explain just a few things that are causing me great concern.

First of all, the hills suck, period. Granted, there’s not much the school can really do about it, but they impair visibility for drivers and walkers tremendously. For instance, I was walking over to the tavern a few days ago. As I was crossing the road, I couldn’t even see the car coming at me until it was already at the top of the hill a few hundred feet away. You can’t see anybody coming up that hill until they are are merely feet away from possibly taking your life. What if that driver had been going 65 or 70mph. We could’ve been run over so easily.

This leads me to my next point. People speed up and down that road as though it’s their job. Whose idea was it to make that road a 45mph speed limit? Everyone drives at least 5-10 miles above the posted speed limit no matter where you are. Why would people be encouraged to go this fast on a road where there is a school entrance that already seems to sneak up on you as it is? I simply don’t understand it.

Another factor that is causing danger is the turning lane in front of the main campus entrance. I have seen so many people try to pull into that lane to go left towards Dade City, and just barely make the turn without being hit by oncoming traffic. The ends of their cars almost always stick out unless they turn the wheel appropriately to fit in the lane. However, it’s such an awkward angle and there is so little space that it is hard to position your car safely. People come flying up the hills on both sides and it creates a very dangerous situation. Take the major accident that happened just a few weeks ago. The guy couldn’t judge the speed of the truck coming at him and in a split second, he was struck. He could’ve been killed.

And, let’s not forget the entrance to the freshmen dorms. Over by the villas, they don’t even have a proper cross walk for the students to cross safely. Are the residents who live in that building supposed to wait there all day for the cars to clear and then run for their lives? The school should’ve anticipated this danger and done more for them. The shuttle isn’t even running anymore! Now all they can do is hope a speeding truck doesn’t come flying at them, right?

I want to see some action. I want to see a light get put up at both entrances, or at the very least have the speed limit lowered. I was doing an interview with Robert Sullivan, the new executive director of Security, a few days ago. He wants to get some school zone flashing lights put up along State Road 52 to force people to slow down. What a genius idea! Why has no one ever considered anything like this before? We are a school, and therefore, the strip of road in front of our school should be designated a school zone. It just makes sense. To get crosswalks, we need traffic lights. How many more people have to get into serious accidents before further action is taken? It might not be easy, but it’s not impossible.

Travel safely out there, and always look ten times instead of three. And, that’s what she said.