School Crossing Guards

[MillauFr]

it can be very lucrative. the much larger district near us generated fines of $4 million for JUST 2 of their schools over the period of 2 consecutive school years. a portion of the funds have been earmarked to pay for more traffic officers to patrol near schools in addition to more than $1.2 million in anticipated construction work requested by neighborhood representatives over the next several years intended to slow speeders, including more prominent crosswalks, larger street signs and bigger medians.

since the laws have been enforced there's been a steady decline in speeding-upwards of 20%. guess those $234 fines are sending a message.

Same here. I work the city transportation department and we are generating so much revenue from the tickets we can't spend it fast enough. I am surprised there are so many speeding tickets as we have narrowed many of the major arterials down to one 10' lane each direction. No passing zones keeps the speeds way down too. They are also adding bike lanes on many of the streets too.

 

[barkley]

They are also adding bike lanes on many of the streets too.

i think allot of revenue could be generated if there was active enforcement of bike laws. we live in a VERY bike friendly area (more so by the day as they continue to put in more bike lanes incl. bike only access roads to popular areas in the city) but it's a freaking hazard for car drivers what with the way the bicyclists ignore traffic signs and lights, cut accross lanes or in the absence of a bike lane drive down the middle of a lane (downright scary when you encounter one in the middle of a lane on a 2 lane/2 direction road just as you round a corner at 40 mph).

 

[kimblebee]

Our city doesn’t use professional crossing guards. Schools here use patrols, which are made up of grade 5/6 students. I don’t think they supersede traffic laws. Here, all school zones have reduced speeds during school hours and are enforced with tickets if you are caught speeding.

 

[jalapeno_pretzel]

I never went to any school with crossing guards, nor have my kids. It seems like some old time thing from the 50s in my mind, just because I've never seen it I guess. There are maybe 3-4 kids that I see walk or bike to our school, and they always have a parent accompanying them.

 

[tvguy]

Crossing guards here follow the signal.

Since I replied I need to clarify based on what I learned yesterday. Crossing guards here are only posted at crosswalks with stop signs. Crosswalks with traffic lights do not have crossing guards.

 

[Poohforyou]

I have no idea what the rules are for crossing guards in out town. I just avoid driving where they are even though I have to go out of my way.

 

[kaytieeldr]

This is exactly how it was when I was a kid. And I agree about the speed limits and that is why it concerns me. We have a lot of semis flying through town (the normal speed limit on said road is 35mph, but that is often not followed), and what if they look down at their phones or something, I cringe when I'm stopped by these crossing guards when the light changes for that reason alone.

Maybe your town needs to reduce the speed limit on all roads? Anyway, the vehicles that might maybe possibly perhaps plow into the crossing guard and some children would be the first one or two - and have you ever seen the crossing guard start escorting students before cars have stopped?

 

[jaiminee krikit]

Maybe your town needs to reduce the speed limit on all roads? Anyway, the vehicles that might maybe possibly perhaps plow into the crossing guard and some children would be the first one or two - and have you ever seen the crossing guard start escorting students before cars have stopped?

Actually yes, multiple times, at different locations. IMHO they are teaching these kids that they always have the right-of-way, and that's not true. That is my main concern.

 

[jaiminee krikit]

Crossing guards supersede traffic signals.

Actually, this isn't always true.

 

[gotomu212]

Actually yes, multiple times, at different locations. IMHO they are teaching these kids that they always have the right-of-way, and that's not true. That is my main concern.

I think that’s a big leap. Kids are able to understand that when I cross the street with the crossing guard I listen to them and when I cross the street without a crossing guard I follow the light. I think you would have heard by now if all the kids in your town leapt in front of traffic at every light.