NORTON - Norton High School parents picking up their children after the last school bell Monday found the fire lane, and the curb in front of the school off-limits.

Student safety issues drove these new parking restrictions, school officials said in an announcement posted on the high school Web site.

Parking lot congestion had slowed buses' efforts to leave the school, "and students walking to cars have far too many dangerous obstacles to navigate," school officials wrote.

The parking restrictions were implemented Monday, after Superintendent Patricia Ansay and Principal Raymond Dewar met with police and fire officials who watched this scene last Friday.

Under the new rules, anyone picking up students at the end of the school day may park in the lane along the school building where buses have loaded. However, those motorists cannot leave the school until after the buses leave, school officials wrote.

Passing a parked bus with its door open and light on is against the law, as is driving the wrong way in a parking lot.

"Please be patient with this as we work out the kinks," school officials wrote.

"It is vital that we get the buses moving on time so that the busses can make their pickups on time at other schools. It is also important to keep emergency lanes open. Most important, we have to ensure the safety of students as they leave the school at the end of the day."

The new restrictions do not apply to morning dropoffs, school officials wrote.