Every morning when I take my child to school a few minutes later than usual, I always arrive at work half an hour late because of the chaos and traffic jam right at the school gate - where there are several cars blocking the way.
I have 2 children, studying at two primary and secondary schools quite close to each other in Nam Tu Liem district, Hanoi. Because I work far away, I usually take them to school quite early and rarely have to deal with traffic jams. But on busy days, I take my children to school 5-10 minutes late and immediately encounter a crowded scene, 1-2 parents in cars park in front of the school gate, stop for 2-3 minutes and the whole line of cars behind are stuck. Motorbikes also jostle each other to park near the school entrance.
The students who ride bicycles have it the hardest. Heavy backpacks slung over their shoulders or in the baskets behind their saddles, their bodies lean to one side as they stand with their feet resting on the ground waiting or trying to squeeze past motorbikes and cars to get to school.
After passing the school gate for a dozen meters, I still could not escape the traffic jam, when many parents parked their motorbikes on the side of the road or parked their motorbikes in the middle of the road, taking advantage of the time to let their children buy sticky rice or a sandwich before going to class. People jostled each other, motorbikes pushed against each other. Voices urging children to buy and eat quickly, voices grumbling in frustration when motorbikes were cut off or encroached on… The scene of starting a new day, preparing for school, was not beautiful at all.
Not far away, there is also a kindergarten. The school has arranged a parking lot inside for motorbikes, and outside for cars, but many parents who can afford it still drive their cars straight into the gate, forcing motorbikes to try to squeeze through one by one. Meanwhile, just 5-10m away is a vacant lot that can accommodate dozens of cars but is empty.
On the way from home to work, I saw this scene again in Dong Da district, when passing a primary school as the bell was about to ring for class.
This school is located right next to a main road, the sidewalk is quite wide, but every day there are at least 2 traffic jams because parents park their cars in front of the school gate. During rush hour, the local authorities have to mobilize 2-3 neighborhood officials to direct traffic and remind parents not to park too close to the school.
Once, at the company, I brought this up and discussed it with some people who also had small children like me. Unexpectedly, many colleagues immediately blamed the city's planning for many schools being close together, small roads, and lack of parking spaces... Some parents argued that if they didn't drop their children off at the school gate, where would they drop them off? They gave all sorts of reasons that sounded reasonable. That is, children carry heavy backpacks so they don't want to park far away and make their children walk for a long time, tiring them out; Parents also have to get to work quickly to be on time, where do they have time to park far away and take their children to school; In the morning, children feel sleepy, fall asleep, and have to be called many times to wake them up to get off the car, so sometimes they have to park at the school gate for a long time...
If we think deeply, do we realize what we are teaching our children when we always look for the most convenient parking spot for ourselves regardless of the regulations or who it affects, or when we are willing to drive in the wrong direction because the detour is several hundred meters longer, or when we do not bother to wear a helmet because the school is only 1-2 km away?
I think the mentality of doing whatever is convenient for you and not letting others do anything… is the main reason for parking haphazardly at school gates, causing traffic jams and setting a bad example for children.
Personal convenience has overshadowed community awareness. We may know that vehicles stopping and parking randomly causes traffic jams, causing difficulties for students, other parents or people around the school, but we still do it because of time pressure, the fast pace of life, habit or thinking "everyone does it".
Before blaming the government, the school, or the planning… perhaps each parent should raise their own awareness a little, starting with small actions, such as finding a parking space that complies with regulations, parking a little further away, walking to pick up and drop off their children when possible… This will not only reduce traffic congestion, but also set an example for their children about a sense of responsibility in the community.
Duc Quang (Parent Hanoi)
Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/buc-xuc-phu-huynh-do-o-to-don-con-gay-hon-loan-cong-truong-2351951.html
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