New Jersey Crossing Guard Training Part 1

New Jersey Crossing Guard Training Part 1

Introduction Why We Need Crossing Guards Goals of the Training Program
Primary Responsibilities Duties Shall, Should, May

Why We Need Crossing Guards
Children are encouraged to walk and bike to school, but their limitations expose them to risks. Children are encouraged to walk and bike to school, but their physical and cognitive limitations expose them to risks when crossing the street.

Leading causes of injury-related death for children ages 5 to 14 nationwide: 1. motor vehicle crashes 2. pedestrian injury Shift from 1969 and 2009: % walked or biked to school 12% driven to school % walked or biked to school 44% driven to school (U.S. DOT, 2009) Nationwide, pedestrian injury is the second leading cause of injury-related death for children ages 5 to 14 behind motor vehicle crashes. Although death and injury rates have declined dramatically for this group over the past four decades, this trend may reflect the decrease in the number of students walking to school. Between 1969 and 2009, the percentage of children aged 5-14 who walked and biked to school dropped from 48% to 13%. Children bused rose 1% to 39%, and the percentage of children driven to school rose from 12% to 44%. More cars on the road results in more hazards for pedestrians.

Until age 9 or 10, children lack the motor and cognitive skills required to safely cross streets. Motorists are distracted approximately 30% of the time they are driving. Lack of focus can lead to driving errors When children are walking and biking to school, they need help with crossing streets safely and learning correct street crossing behavior. Read slide and explain: “Motor skills” refers to learned movements and how our bodies respond to accomplish a task. “Cognitive skills” refers to memory, judgment and reasoning.

Goals of the Training Program
The goal of this training program is to teach crossing guards how to safely cross students. Read slide.

Primary Responsibilities
Crossing Guards: Provide safe crossings of the roadways. Model correct street skills and behavior for child pedestrians. A crossing guard’s prime duty is to assist children in crossing the street at assigned times and locations. Crossing guards also serve as community role models for correct pedestrian behavior.

Characteristics of Young Children
Children do not naturally know how to be safe in traffic and, until the age of 9 or 10, children lack the physical skills and mental awareness required to safely navigate traffic situations. Note to Supervisor: The video “Children in Traffic” may be shown when discussing this topic. The video can be ordered from AAA at: The video is also available on Youtube at

Children see and understand things differently from adults. Children: narrower field of vision eye level is lower than an adult view may be easily blocked Children see differently than adults. They have a narrower field of vision, only two-thirds that of an adult. In addition, their eye level is lower than that of an adult and their view may be more easily blocked. The crossing guard’s job is to see the danger that a child can not see. © 2010, the State of Florida Department of Transportation

Smaller, not as easily seen by drivers Believe “if I can see it – it can see me.” Children are smaller in stature and are not as easily seen by drivers. However, children believe “if I can see it – it can see me” and may step into the street expecting traffic to stop. A driver’s sight lines of the sidewalk may be obscured by parked cars, bushes or trees, mail boxes, benches, etc. A child may not realize that approaching vehicles can not see him or her.

Children hear differently – difficulty knowing where sounds are coming from Children hear differently; they cannot determine the source of sounds or direction of sounds. They may hear a car or truck but may not know what direction the vehicle is coming from and will step into a street. They may also be distracted by the sounds of children talking or horns honking. © 2010, the State of Florida Department of Transportation

cannot judge motor vehicle speed & distance do not recognize danger because of limited traffic experience Children cannot judge speed and distance of motor vehicles. A child may see a car approaching but will not know if there is or is not time to cross the street safely. Their lack of traffic experience limits their ability to recognize dangerous situations. They may assume that a car will automatically stop at a crosswalk or that once one car stops, all approaching cars will stop. © 2010, the State of Florida Department of Transportation

focus on one thing at a time may not give street crossing full attention will complete any motion they start including crossing the street Children tend to focus on one thing at a time. This could be the ball they are bouncing or who they are going to play with after school. That one thought may not be the traffic they are crossing. In addition, a child’s focus can shift quickly from one thought to another, or from one object to another, such as from the approaching car to someone walking a dog. Children will complete any motion they start. If a child follows a bouncing ball into the street and sees a car approaching the child will tend to continue after the ball. © 2010, the State of Florida Department of Transportation

think they can do more than they are able to do are spontaneous & curious believe they can run faster or change direction faster than is possible do not understand “Left” and “Right” Children overestimate their abilities. They may believe that they can run faster or change direction faster than they physically can. This belief may cause them to take chances with oncoming traffic, for instance, running across the street even though they know a car is approaching.

Children follow what other people do, whether good or bad. If a child or adult practices poor behavior while crossing an intersection, other children learn that behavior. We see this most often when parents cross inappropriately and the child follows. The crossing guard must model proper crossing procedures each and every time children are crossing so that children know what is expected of them. Furthermore, crossing guards should model proper pedestrian behavior at all times and in all places. You never know who’s watching.

With education, children’s traffic skills can improve Need assistance until they have gained these skills With education, children’s traffic skills can improve. Until they have gained competency, they need assistance. Crossing guards provide this assistance and model appropriate crossing behavior.

Traffic Laws and Regulations
Laws, Regulations, Policies Stop and Stay Stopped Yield to Pedestrians Crosswalks Motor Vehicle Laws School Zone Pedestrian Laws Bicyclist Laws

Crosswalk Defined Every intersection has a crosswalk whether marked or unmarked. The law clearly defines what a crosswalk is: 39:1-1: “Crosswalk” means that part of a highway at an intersection, either marked or unmarked existing at each approach of every roadway intersection, included within the connections of the lateral lines of the sidewalks on opposite sides of the highway measured from the curbs or, in the absence of curbs, from the edges of the shoulder, or, if none, from the edges of the roadway; also, any portion of a highway at an intersection or elsewhere distinctly indicated for pedestrian crossing by lines or other marking on the surface. Every intersection has a crosswalk, whether marked or unmarked. NJSA 39:1-1

“Marked Crosswalk” [Note to Supervisor: this slide has animation.] This graphic illustrates that crosswalks exist at every intersection. We can have the “marked” crosswalk which has some type of paint or striping that indicate the crosswalk whether it be parallel lines or more high visibility markings such as continental , ladder, or zebra striped. But even where the crosswalk is not marked, there is a “unmarked” crosswalk which is defined as the continuation of the sidewalk or curb edge. If not marked, crosswalks are continuations of the sidewalks or curb/edge of roadway across the intersection.

Shall, Should, May Practices that are required, mandatory, or specifically prohibited use the verb “shall” or “must.” Practices that are recommended, but not mandatory, use the verb “should.” Optional practices use the verb “may.” Shall or Must = required Should = recommended May = optional

Stop and Stay Stopped Motorists must stop and stay stopped to allow a pedestrian to cross the roadway in a marked crosswalk, when the pedestrian is in the half of the roadway where the vehicle is traveling or onto which it is turning. In order to reduce confusion and clarify that yielding to pedestrians in a crosswalk requires the driver to stop their vehicle, the law was changed in April 2010 to educate drivers that they must stop and stay stopped for pedestrians in a marked crosswalk.

Yield to Pedestrian Motorists must yield to a pedestrian crossing the roadway in any unmarked crosswalk at an intersection. At an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection, motorists must yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk. Every intersection has a crosswalk, whether marked or unmarked. Except: At crosswalks where police or traffic signals control traffic, or Where otherwise regulated by the municipality, county, or state, or Where a pedestrian tunnel or overhead pedestrian crossing has been provided yield – road user must prepare to slow or stop if necessary to let another user on another approach proceed. This is different from a stop sign which requires a road user to stop completely before proceeding, even if no other user is present.

Pedestrians and Vehicles
Drivers making a right turn on red or at a “stop” sign must stop and stay stopped for pedestrians Motorists turning at signals must stop for pedestrians. Even when they have a green light when making a right or left turn they must stop and stay stopped for any pedestrian in the crosswalk. NJSA 39:4-115

Pedestrians shall not cross a road against the "stop" or red signal at a crosswalk. Pedestrians have to obey traffic control at signalized locations. The law also states they shall not start crossing the street in front of a car where it would be impossible for a car to stop. Pedestrians shall not walk into the path of a vehicle which is so close that the driver can not yield or stop. NJSA 39:4-32

If a pedestrian is not within a marked or unmarked crosswalk then he or she must yield the right-of-way to all vehicles on the road. Pedestrians have the right to cross the street at locations away from crosswalks, they simply have to grant the right-of-way to the motorists. This means that they can not cross until it is safe to do so and should not impede motorists (since the motorist has the ROW at places other than crosswalks). This is not “jaywalking”. You can imagine a suburban community with very infrequent crossings where it would be unreasonable to expect pedestrians to walk a half mile for a crossing. However, it is reasonable to expect them to yield to cars before trying to cross. An important provision of the law is that motorists are obligated to stay stopped for pedestrians that have started to cross during the walk phase of a signal. Motorists are not allowed to start moving, even with the green signal, if a pedestrian is still within the crosswalk when the signal changes. Such a situation may arise at locations with inadequate pedestrian signal timing or involving the mobility-impaired. A pedestrian crossing or starting across on a “go” or green signal who is still in the crosswalk when the signal changes, has the right of way until reaching the opposite curb or place of safety. NJSA 39:4-32

Motor Vehicle Laws Motorists must obey signals from the STOP paddle held by school crossing guards. The STOP paddle is an official sign under New Jersey law. Motorists can be ticketed for failure to stop for a crossing guard using a STOP paddle. The fine for a first offense is $150.00, subsequent offense fines are not less than $ NJSA 39:4-80.1 NJSA 39:1-1

School Zone Motorists must obey posted speed limits and be attentive and cautious when pedestrians are present, or likely to be present, especially in school zones. This is reinforced by the “due care” provision of the law which states motorists must drive cautiously around young pedestrians. Reduced speed limit in school zones also reinforce the need to drive cautiously. NJSA 39:4-98

School Zone The speed limit is 25 mph in a school zone. The only exception is when a lower speed limit is posted. The speed limit is 25 mph in a school zone during recess when children are clearly visible from the roadway, or while children are going to or leaving school (during opening or closing hours). The only exception is when a lower speed limit is posted. NJSA 39:4-98

School Zone Other signs may be in force in school zones. Be aware of restrictions on motor vehicle activity at your post. When possible without interfering with crossing students, write down information on violators and notify your supervisor.

Bicycles, Scooters, Skateboards
Children on bicycles, scooters or skateboards should: Walk across the street avoids conflicts among crossing children allows guard and children to be more attentive & react quickly to traffic hazards Wear a helmet at all times anyone under 17 who rides bikes or wheeled sports equipment (NJSA 39:4-10.1) Bicyclists should dismount before entering a crosswalk. Crossing guards who see students on a bicycle, skateboard, or scooter should tell them to dismount before crossing. When on a bicycle, skateboard, or scooter, the student is moving at a different speed than those students walking. This can pose a conflict with the crossing pedestrians. Photo credit: © 2010, The State of Florida Department of Transportation

Crossing Procedures Directing Traffic? Gap Assessment
Cone/Marker Placement Standard Crossing Protocol Proper Search Pattern Preparing Students to Cross Use of STOP Paddle Difficult Situations Courtesy Crossing of Adult Pedestrians

Directing Traffic? Crossing guards shall not direct traffic.
They choose good times to create gaps in the traffic flow. They stand in the roadway to show that pedestrians are about to use or are using the crosswalk, and that all vehicles must stop. Crossing guards shall not direct traffic, but rather, they shall choose opportune times to create sufficient gaps in the traffic flow. At these times, they shall stand in the roadway to indicate that pedestrians are about to use or are using the crosswalk, and that all vehicular traffic must stop. FHWA MUTCD 7D.05 Crossing guards shall not direct traffic. Police officers receive specific and substantial training on directing traffic that crossing guards do not. It is a potential liability issue for programs that allow crossing guards to direct traffic. Crossing guards use existing pedestrian laws that require motorists to stop for pedestrians in the crosswalk. FHWA MUTCD 7D.05

Gap Assessment Stopping distance, the distance required for motorists
to see you, to recognize the need to stop, to apply the brake in a reasonable manner, and to bring the vehicle to a halt. A marker on the roadway or roadside helps with deciding when a gap is sufficient to stop traffic. You must be able to predict the vehicle stopping distance, or the distance required for motorists to see you, to recognize the need to stop, to apply the brake in a reasonable manner, and to bring the vehicle to a halt. A marker on the roadway or roadside may help with deciding when a gap is sufficient to stop traffic. Although establishing such a marker will be useful for most traffic, vehicles moving faster than normal will require more distance to stop safely. Using a mark in combination with practical experience will help to avoid conflicts. You should also allow for greater vehicle stopping distances in rainy, snowy and icy conditions. Allow for greater vehicle stopping distances in rainy, snowy and icy conditions.

Cone/Marker Placement
Speed Limit (mph) 15 20 25 30 35 40 Distance (ft) 46 73 102 140 183 234 Assuming no significant hills, this table shows where to place a cone or marker based on vehicle speeds. Distances are measured from nearest crosswalk line to where the marker is to be placed. These distances are for dry pavement and daylight. Motor vehicle speed is a key determinant of the proper placement of a visual marker. This table shows the distance from which a motorist has ample time to see a pedestrian and stop for him/her. It is important to realize that this provides a point from which a driver HAS TIME to stop; this does not mean that they WILL stop. The marker provides a visual cue from which the crossing guard can create a gap, safely proceed into the crosswalk, and initiate a crossing for students.

Cone/Marker Placement
Example: 25 mph (actual speed, dry road conditions) Clearly Marked Crosswalk 102’ In this graphic, the crossing guard notices the red car has ample time to stop for the crossing guard. The green vehicle is already too close. The crossing guard should be trying to make eye contact with the red vehicle and should be seeking to get the driver’s attention by extending the STOP paddle. Only after the crossing guard is assured that the red vehicle is stopping should he or she step into that lane of traffic to proceed with taking position for crossing the children. Traffic Cone/Sign or Marker Crossing Guard

Proper Search Pattern Model and reinforce proper crossing behavior:
Pause at “traffic edges” Usually, traffic edges are curbs Where there are parked or stopped vehicles, the traffic edge extends beyond the curb At each traffic edge, follow proper search pattern One of the most important roles of the adult school crossing guard is to model and reinforce proper crossing behavior. To allow time to assess traffic conditions at a crossing, pedestrians need to recognize and pause at “traffic edges.” Typically curbs are the traffic edges beyond which a pedestrian might encounter moving traffic. However, in some situations, where motor vehicles illegally park too close to the crosswalk or where there are stopped vehicles, the traffic edge would extend beyond the curb. At each traffic edge, pedestrians must search in the directions from which traffic might approach before proceeding into the roadway.

Module -6 / Crossing Techniques
Proper Search Pattern This search pattern needs to be performed each time a guard begins to cross children. A guard is always the first person in the street and the last person out of the street. A guard is always the first person in the street and the last person out of the street. Sstop at the curb or edge of the road. Look LEFT - RIGHT - then LEFT again for traffic. At an intersection such as the one pictured, one should look ahead and over one’s shoulder for possible turning vehicles. Keep searching while crossing the road. Left Right Left Over the Shoulder Florida School Crossing Guard Training Program © 2010, the State of Florida Department of Transportation Module -6 / Crossing Techniques

Preparing Students to Cross
Bring the children together in one place. Remember: Check if children are scanning for traffic. Watch for students running to join the group. Make sure that you have a designated assembly area. A marker of some kind can be helpful. While children are gathering or while you are waiting for a pedestrian phase at a signal, use that time as a potential teaching opportunity on proper crossing behavior. Also be on the lookout for stragglers rushing to join the group. Use bumpy pad or other marker to show children where to stand.

Preparing Students to Cross
Talk with children while they are on the sidewalk but NOT in the crosswalk. Remind them to: Scan the street for vehicles Wait at least one step back from the road edge Continue searching while crossing Walk straight across the street Walk bicycles and carry skateboards Talk with children while they are on the sidewalk but NOT in the crosswalk. Crossing guards should talk to the children about safe crossing techniques as they are gathering and waiting to be crossed. Guards should use this opportunity to help students learn good pedestrian skills. Children should… scan the street for vehicles. continue looking while crossing the street until completely out of the roadway. wait at least one step back from the curb or roadway edge until you have stopped traffic and signaled them to search and proceed. walk directly across the street at a consistent pace. walk bicycles and carry skateboards while crossing the street

Use of STOP Paddle 1. When stepping into the crosswalk, raise the STOP paddle and hold it in front of you so it can clearly be seen. The STOP paddle should be used at every crossing. The STOP paddle makes you more noticeable. Additionally, it is an official sign that motorists must obey. Make sure you have it raised and clearly visible when you step into the crosswalk. © 2010, the State of Florida Department of Transportation

Use of STOP Paddle 2. Hold the paddle shoulder-high or higher - one side displayed to “near-side traffic”, the other displayed “far-side traffic.” FAR SIDE NEAR SIDE The crossing guard’s body should not block either view of the STOP paddle. The two faces of the paddle should remain continuously visible to traffic approaching from both sides. Hold the paddle shoulder-high or higher so that one side is displayed to traffic approaching the crosswalk on the near side of the street (“near-side traffic”), and the other is displayed to traffic approaching the crosswalk on the far side of the street (“far-side traffic”). The paddle leads you into the crosswalk. © 2010, the State of Florida Department of Transportation

Use of STOP Paddle 3. Continuing to hold the paddle, look directly at far-side traffic as you approach the middle of the street. FAR SIDE NEAR SIDE Make sure the STOP paddle is at shoulder height or higher and visible as you scan for traffic when taking position in the crosswalk. © 2010, the State of Florida Department of Transportation

CROSSING GUARDS SHOULD EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED.
Proper Search Pattern Hazardous driver behaviors you may see: Speeding Driving through a crosswalk Stopping in a crosswalk Moving into a crosswalk when making a turn Not yielding/stopping for pedestrians in a crosswalk The search pattern is important because of these common crosswalk hazards: Speeding Driving through a crosswalk Stopping within a crosswalk Encroaching on a crosswalk when making a left turn at a green light Encroaching on a crosswalk when making a right turn on red Failure to yield to pedestrians in an unmarked crosswalk, or failure to stop for pedestrians in a marked crosswalk CROSSING GUARDS SHOULD EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED.

Difficult Situations If heavy traffic or other conditions make crossing pedestrians difficult, notify your supervisor. For difficult crossing conditions notify your supervising officer. He or she will work with you to determine the safest and most effective crossing protocol and crossing guard positioning for the intersection. Note to Supervisor: Motorists consistently failing to stop for the crossing guard at an intersection may be addressed through Pedestrian Safety Enforcement efforts. Adjustments to crossing procedures may be required. Assistance may be available from police officers who can direct traffic. A consistently hazardous situation may require a traffic study.

Courtesy Crossing of Adult Pedestrians
You may cross an adult who asks for help as long as it does not conflict with crossing students. Have a clear understanding on your local policy on crossing adult pedestrians. Remember, your first and primary duty is to safely cross children.

New Jersey Crossing Guard Training Part 1

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