We all know traffic is a hassle around USF. But maybe if students were better drivers, driving in on campus wouldn’t feel like a death wish.

Almost everyday on campus, I see students speeding, rolling through stop signs and parking over the lines.

Especially in the parking lot by the Yuengling Center, it seems everyone is ignoring stop signs despite the tight space. 

I can only road rage so much.

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I have a pretty good driving record, but unfortunately, I can’t say the same for my fellow peers.

With so many drivers on campus, accidents are prone to happen but can be avoided. 

Bagen Law is an accident injury law firm based in Gainesville but serves communities all over Florida, including Tampa. 

In 2023, they surveyed 100 Florida drivers ages 18-24 and found just under 40% of college-aged drivers reported having been in a “few accidents,” according to their College-Aged Driving Safety Survey.

Safety should be a top priority when it comes to driving anywhere, especially on college campuses with thousands of students hustling here and there to classes. 

This is no place to put the pedal to the metal.

Parking lots especially have many pedestrians and cars, so it’s important to be aware of your surroundings.

“Most parking lot accidents result from operator errors, mainly due to backing up or failing to navigate a parking space properly,” said Michael Lavelle, a University Police spokesperson.

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Checking your blind spots and rearview mirror is an important step when backing out. Don’t rely on those new backup cameras because they don’t always help you see those next to you or behind you.

Speeding around corners in the parking garages is also very dangerous in parking lots because tight spaces can be harder to navigate. 

In 2023 there were 9,825 student annual parking passes bought and 16,322 semester passes bought, according to USF Parking and Transportation services. 

Meaning we can assume there are hundreds, if not thousands, of drivers on campus during peak hours.

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“It’s crucial to plan ahead to avoid rushing, be considerate of others, and recognize that pedestrians have the right of way while driving carefully,” Lavelle said.

In all parking lots on campus, the speed limit is between five to 10 mph in parking garages, according to USF’s Traffic and Moving Violations and Regulations.

Lavelle said although speeding is not a major concern at USF, it’s still important to uphold the law.

“Speeding is a more significant societal problem, especially among young drivers,” said Lavelle. “We have laws against speeding for a reason: to save lives and reduce unnecessary accidents.”

Student drivers also shouldn’t forget the basic driving steps such as using blinkers and waiting for pedestrians. This could result in fewer accidents on campus.

And finally, when I learned how to drive, my dad gave me a piece of advice that made me a more confident driver. 

He told me to pay attention to what I’m doing rather than what everyone else is doing, which helped me focus on the road and be less anxious about what others around me are doing.