A Wesley Chapel High sophomore is working to make the roads safer near her school.
As part of Samantha Politano's Girl Scout project, she's tackling road safety along Wells Road, which is where three schools - including her high school - are located.
Cars are often parked along both sides of the road - despite several "No Parking" signs - and traffic congestion is a daily struggle.
“It’s annoying; there is a lot of traffic,” said Brooke Truitt while picking up her brother.
Just earlier this year, a Wesley Chapel High School student was hit while crossing the road.
So in an effort to make the roads near her school safer, Politano is starting at the root of the problem, which is Wells Road.
“We need to paint a center median all the way down the road and widen it, so people can have turn lanes to turn into all schools,” she said.
Mother Pamela Poole says the project is vital.
“Several times when we are trying to turn left into the pick-up, then there will be people trying to pass us on the left and then there will be people coming out," she said. "There have been several times where I was waiting out here and it’s almost a head on collision."
Politano has already started a petition asking the county to look into the issue and eventually widen the road. So far that petition has gained over 200 signatures, and she needs about 200 more.
In the meantime, she is spreading awareness on road safety through handmade signs as well as educating other students with her mission.
Politano plans to meet up with the county soon to further discuss the widening project. She said she also plans to keep advocating for safer roads until she graduates from high school.