What Are Our Worst School-Related Traffic Jams?

Most of the back-to-school excitement has been just good old stomach butterflies, but some folks are less than excited to get back to the traffic mess created during drop-off and pick-up times at local public schools.

No doubt, we're going to see some aggressive driving moves from people in a hurry and close calls with pedestrians because of the lack of busing and the relatively sparse (although growing) numbers of kids who walk or ride to school. Every morning is a textbook spectacle of distracted driving.

That said, reported no collisions at or near any schools during morning or afternoon shuttle times during this first half-week of public school, Sgt. Oliver Collins said.

"The biggest problems are the parking," he said, "not so much in front of the schools but in the neighborhoods surrounding the schools. The residents who live around the schools get some pretty significant problems with parking and something have trouble getting out of their driveways in the mornings."

There are a few other changes this year that will take some getting used to, he said. At , there is a sign that prohibits drivers from talk a left onto Sunset Parkway at certain hours, prompting a few moving violations. Also, has a new drop-off area that parents are still trying to figure out, Collins said.

Which Novato school do you think has the worst traffic during drop-off and pick-up times? We'll get you started:

• Arthur and Cambridge streets near and .
• Main Gate Road in front of .
• Center Road in front of Lu Sutton Elementary School.
• Vineyard Road in front of .
• Sunset Boulevard in front of San Jose Middle School.

For some reason, it doesn't seem quite as crazy, comparatively speaking, in front of , , , , or . Or is that a fallacy?

Do you have any crazy school traffic stories? Do you have any suggestions that would alleviate problems (other than somehow paying for school buses)? Let us know in the comments below. 

While you're at it, send a shout-out to your favorite crossing guard. Most of them are worth their weight in gold, huh?

One other thing: Make sure to participate in the Safe Routes to School program and consider walking or biking with your kids to school if you have time — for the health of it and to help alleviate traffic.