Mid-morning at elementary schools tends to be calm, with students engaged in activities, but drop-off times reveal a chaotic scene filled with traffic from parents driving their children. In the U.S., more than 10% of rush-hour traffic is attributed to parents picking up and dropping off kids, leading to frustrations for families and concerns from city planners and environmentalists. The car line has become a symbol of broader issues, including community disconnection and health risks for children who are sedentary and exposed to vehicle emissions. Historically, children walked or biked to school, but as suburbanization increased in the mid-20th century, school consolidation and inadequate pedestrian infrastructure made driving seem like the only safe option.
https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2024/09/school-drop-off-cars-chaos/679869
