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Day care owner worried about traffic, safety of children
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BATON ROUGE - Increased traffic over the years on Jefferson Highway may be putting children at one day care at risk. The owner of Guardian Angel Day Care is asking for help to slow the traffic down.
"I just feel like they're all my children and I don't want anything to happen to them," said day care owner Linda Holston.
Guardian Angel Day Care has been in operation since 1992. Holston's top priority is the safety of the children she watches over everyday. But she says it's dangerous for the parents of the children to come and go from the parking lot.
The entrance to the daycare is on Jefferson Highway near Highland Road. Holston says when the inside lane closest to the daycare lets a car in to turn, the rest of the road appears clear but cars zip through the turn lane and don't see turning traffic.
"They come flying, that's how the wrecks are happening," she said.
The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development says the left turn lane was installed in 2007. Since then, there's no trend that shows an increase in accidents. The average for that area is about 15 a year.
Holston says she's looking for ways to slow the traffic down so drivers are aware of the daycare and the children. DOTD installed a traffic light at the intersection of Jefferson Highway and Highland Road recently to alert drivers of the approaching intersection. There is also a sign to report a signal ahead. Holston says that's not enough.
The state says Holston can put a sign on her property without having to ask anyone. However, if it's on the state right of way she would have to contact traffic engineering to see if the sign and location meet specific requirements including wording and size.
The state denied a flashing light and a sign that would alert cars to not block the driveway.
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