By Frank Lucasale Not everyone is fortunate enough to live right across the street from their school, allowing them to sleep in without worrying about catching the bus or getting stuck in traffic with their parents. For many students, this isn’t the case, and for parents, it can be a headache as they wait in long lines to drop off their kids.
At one elementary school in Ohio, the staff noticed that some parents were taking too long in the drop-off lane. To address this, they decided to put up some signs reminding drivers that the area is not a parking space. The parents appreciated these signs not only for their helpfulness but also for their fun and nostalgic touch!
An elementary school in Ohio noticed that parents were taking too long to drop off their kids, so they came up with a creative approach
According to the Safe Routes to School (SRTS) guide, a drop-off and pick-up lane is designated for loading and unloading students by private vehicles, located adjacent to or directly on school grounds. This area is a no-parking zone, meaning cars should move immediately after children exit and ensure there are no kids in the way.
However, what should be a quick and convenient process often becomes slow and stressful. Mornings can be hectic, and kids might take their time getting ready, resist going to school, or parents might want to finish a conversation or check their phones after stopping. As a result, cars often linger in the drop-off area longer than they should.
Since drop-off lanes are strictly no-parking zones, vehicles are only allowed to stop briefly to pick up or drop off passengers. Unfortunately, many drivers don’t follow these rules. This led one school in Ohio to put up signs reminding parents to keep moving once their children are out of the car.
The school decided to create some meme-like images featuring well-known celebrities to help parents remember the drop-off lane rules. These funny photos were shared in the school’s parent Facebook group, and one parent, Monet Lude, noted that while the kids might not fully appreciate the humor, the adults certainly do.
The signs feature the faces of MC Hammer, TLC, Ryan Gosling, and Ross from Friends, all encouraging parents to say goodbye to their kids, avoid blocking the lanes, and not park in them.
Bored Panda spoke with Monet Lude, whose Facebook post about the signs went viral with 10,000 likes. She shared that when she first saw the signs, she laughed out loud, saying, “Mornings can get hectic, but these signs really helped ease the tension.”
The school decided to put up some signs reminding the parents that they shouldn’t linger too long in front of the school
The president of the Austintown Elementary PTA Jessica Lippillo told Today Parents that the drop-off lines at their school were usually running smoothly, but “this year, some of our kids are attending school for the first time ever because of COVID. Students and parents are feeling anxious and I wanted to alleviate their stress.”
Instead of penalizing the parents or sending them passive-aggressive emails, the school wanted to show that they have a sense of humor and decided to put up a reminder with a comical twist. Although the signs will be removed after a week, the director is already thinking about what the school will surprise the parents with at the end of the year.
Monet Lude told us that she doesn’t “frequent the drop off line but when [they] get the ‘pleasure’ their have been some jams for sure.”
But have done it with a comical twist and sprinkling some nostalgia in it as well
A video explaining how to speed up the drop-off process went viral on TikTok, and both parents and teachers flooded the comments to thank creator Teasha Witherspoon for raising awareness.
Her five tips include placing kids in the passenger seat and teaching them to efficiently shuffle to the other side if there are multiple children. She suggests they be ready to open the door when it’s their turn and not to wait for parents to do it for them. Teasha also advises that kids should wear their backpacks and that parents should keep the car moving at a slow pace—just a few miles per hour—to avoid blocking the line.
While it’s essential for parents to help keep the flow of traffic moving, Monet Lude believes the signs are also very helpful. “The school can only do so much to improve the drop-off lines. Ours definitely goes above and beyond with staff directing traffic each morning, but these signs definitely make it easier to follow that guidance!”
They put up some meme-like images with reminders of the drop-off lane rules, which the parents and the internet loved
People in the comments were loving the school’s sense of humor and agreed that the problem of drop-off lanes is real
