This is an installment of an 8 part series on School Safety Plans. The next portion will be posted next Monday.
Trees, shrubs, fences, buses,
and parked vehicles should be limited in crossing areas so kids can be seen by
vehicles in time for the vehicles to stop for them. Obstructions should be removed within the
school grounds and along the school routes to school. This is most important at elementary schools
because the children are smaller. A
three foot high shrub would be a problem at an elementary school where it
wouldn’t be a problem at a high school.
When possible, students
should cross traffic in groups so they will be more visible. If there are concentrations of students who
walk or bicycle along the same route, a “walking school bus” or “bicycle train”
system can be developed. The students go
to their corner at a certain time and get “picked-up” by the group in the same
fashion a school bus operates. These
work best if an adult volunteer goes with the group, starting at the first
“stop.”
If adult crossing guards or
student patrols are used, they should have whistles to catch the attention of
motorists and/or students. They are also
required to wear high visibility apparel (per the Federal Highway
Administration’s Manual on Uniform Traffic
Control Devices). This apparel (safety vests)
should comply with ANSI 107-1999. AAA is a great resource for developing your
school patrol procedures.
The school I volunteer with provides good student visibility for the drivers as there aren't obstacles that may prevent a car from seeing the children. There is also a crossing guard and stop light to guide the students across the street.
Posted by: Alvin Sarmiento | June 08, 2010 at 02:32 PM