Does Common Sense Exist Anymore?

The other day, I had a discussion with one of the mom's at my son's school about common sense.  The conversation started when I noted the amount of people who park in the bus zone (and in fact, right at the bus stop), on the road in front of my son's school.  Parking is always an issue there - the reason being is that parking is no longer allowed in the cul-de-sac beside my son's school.

Parking in the cul-de-sac became a very hot topic as there were those who chose to park in front of resident's drive ways and left their vehicles to walk their kids to the doors.  The residents who live across from the school in that cul-de-sac loudly voiced their displeasure, and as a result, the cul-de-sac is now a drop off only area.  So, now, those that want to park have moved to the street.  However, their common sense has not gotten any better - they still block driveways and bus zones!

Parking in the bus zone/stop is not only dangerous to the people disembarking, but to other drivers as well.  The bus now has to stop in the driving lane to let passengers off.  They run the risk of being hit or slipping and falling under one of these vehicles or the bus itself, especially if the roadway hasn't been cleared.  In doing so, the bus is also holding up traffic, or runs the risk of someone hitting the bus from behind.  

Now depending on the bus driver, he will call it in to say that there are cars obstructing the bus zone/stop.  Interestingly enough, it is the same people who do it every day - at least the same vehicles are there every day.  The problem is by the time law enforcement gets there, these violators are already gone, having picked up their children.

I observe this every single day as I go to pick up my son. I'm someone who makes sure my car is clear of someone's driveway; it's common sense. Yet, it is always the same people who are violating these basic driving rules, all the time, every day. The funniest part? There is one lady who blocks two driveways (she parks between them, along the small grassy area in between the two houses), and her husband is a driving instructor! Wow - remind me not to send my children to that driving school! She even makes a u-turn in the middle of the road to park in that spot. Amazing.

It's scary to think that these are the same people who will be teaching their own kids to drive later in life.  I would by then, common sense would prevail, and they would take responsibility for their actions, though I'm not holding my breath on that one.