Since the beginning of the 2008-09 school year, Lone Peak High School students have been involved in 25 reported traffic accidents in the vicinity of the high school, or about one each school week.

"I've seen accidents literally days in a row," Lone Peak junior Bracken Moeller said. "I've been with drivers that say, 'Don't worry, [cars] will stop.' They just go and hope they will stop for them."

Actually, the accident rate used to be even higher, said Alpine District administrator Rhonda Bromley. "The [parking lot] used to be one way in and out with no stoplights," she said.

Installation of a stoplight and a second entrance via Knight Avenue has improved traffic safety in the last couple of years.

Police Chief Kip Botkin said that accidents happen because of the high concentration of inexperienced drivers in a small area. Fortunately, because of heavy traffic and low speeds, most accidents involve property damage but no serious injuries.

Most accidents occur when students are in a hurry to get to classes or back home again. "There is quite the backup starting at about 7:25 a.m., and then again when school gets out in the afternoon," Bromley said.

Sergeant Dave Boerner said that 20 of the 25 accidents happened on 4800 West, when students were following other cars too closely and then crashed when one car suddenly stopped.

Junior Andrea Price said she has been involved in two accidents since she started driving in August; both times someone rear-ended her car on 4800 West.

"The second time I was driving home and stopped quickly," she said. "The car behind me stopped, but the one further back hit it. Then a black car two more cars back hit us and drove away. It was a five-car crash and two cars were really banged up."

High schools nationwide are developing programs to increase teenage driver safety. One example is the "Drive Smart" campaign in Colorado Springs, which educates 25,000 students and residents each year.

On Wendesday night, the Highland Youth City Council discussed ideas for a traffic safety program at Lone Peak. Council members dismissed the idea of limiting parking permits, saying that students would simply park illegally rather than ride the bus. They also said students don't want to walk to school because student drivers make rude comments.

"Students swear at me all the time," junior Boston Watts said. "Almost every time I cross the street someone flips me off."

Council members also said that safety assemblies would be ineffective, saying that "nobody goes to the assemblies anyway."

Youth mayor Parker Bassett suggested a safety booth, possibly at the Highland Fling, to encourage people to not use cell phones while driving.

"The problem is, people get distracted; they are not watching the road," he said.

Other suggestions included forming carpools and placing safety fliers on windshields. The council decided to form a safety committee, which will work with Lone Peak administration to improve traffic safety.

Bromley said she supports school-based safety programs. "The safety of students is a top priority in our district," she said. "This would include coming to and from school."