By Marina Andalon

Daily Press Staff Writer

A new study reveals that three elementary schools in Santa Monica rank among the most dangerous school zones in California.

Panish Shea & Boyle LLP, and 1Point21 Interactive partnered to find out which California elementary schools are the most dangerous for students getting to and from school.

The study analyzed records of motor vehicle collisions from 2015 within ½ mile of an elementary school. McKinley Elementary, Santa Monica Alternative School, and John Muir Elementary ranked in the top 400 of California elementary schools riskiest routes for students.

According to the National Household Travel Survey by the U.S. DoT, nearly 80% of students age 6-12 walk or bike to school if they live within ¼ of a mile from school.

“Ultimately this study is an opportunity to bring awareness to schools and cities. Schools should be interacting with their city and the traffic engineers to help prevent these accidents,” said Attorney Rahul Ravipudi of Panish Shea & Boyle LLP. “The study has only been out for almost two weeks now and we have been getting a positive response. This could possibly well be an annual study.”

All the numbers and information was primarily taken from Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System, (SWITRS). A database that serves, collects, and processes data gathered from any collision scene throughout California.

According to the researchers:

McKinley Elementary had 98 car accidents, 14 pedestrian accidents and 13 bike accidents, resulting in a risk score of 35.80. Ranked 247.

Santa Monica Alternative (K-8) had 97 car accidents, 6 pedestrian accidents, and 19 bike accidents, resulting in a risk score of 34.40. Ranked 277.

John Muir Elementary had 90 car accidents, 6 pedestrian accidents, and 18 bike accidents, resulting in a risk score of 32.40. Ranked 308.

Will Rogers Elementary had 54 car accidents, 4 pedestrian accidents, and 13 bike accidents, resulting in a risk score of 21.00. Did not rank.

Grant Elementary had 65 car accidents, 5 pedestrian accidents and 8 bike accidents, resulting in a risk score of 20.80. Did not rank.

Edison Elementary had 62 car accidents, 1 pedestrian accident, and 10 bike accidents, resulting in a risk score of 19.00. Did not rank.

Roosevelt Elementary had 30 car accidents, 4 pedestrian accidents and 5 bike accidents, resulting in a risk score of 11.40. Did not rank.

Franklin Elementary had 23 car accidents, 2 pedestrian accidents, and 0 bike accidents, resulting in a risk score of 5.80. Did not rank.

Pedestrian and bicycle collision were weighed more heavily in the score.

“I am happy that this study came out, and frankly my husband and I are concerned about the numbers. We want our kids to be safe,” said Mari Moore, parent at McKinley Elementary. “I would love to see more speed reduce signs and in more prominent locations around schools.”

Brian Beltz, 1Point21 Interactive, Research and Project Lead said, “The main objective was to find schools who happen to have a dangerous zone. This is the first time we have done a study like this. We want to give parents an idea of what their child’s school safety is like.”

Since the study has been out almost of full two weeks, both Panish Shea & Boyle LLP, and 1Point21 Interactive have been receiving positive responses and questions from concerned parents.

“We have actually had parents from the Santa Monica area reach out to ask us questions, and share their concerns about the study. We are more than happy to explain to them how our research was conducted,” said Beltz.