CROSSING GUARD

Qualifications

Completion of the 8th grade, with functional skills in reading, writing, and mathematics.

Responsibilities

• Stand on the curb or edge of the roadway on the side of the street where students are approaching.
• If possible, wait until a small group of students has assembled. The students are to wait at least one step back from the curb or roadway edge.
• Instruct the students prior to crossing not to move until given a verbal signal. The crossing guard should tell the student what the verbal signal will be (example: “Look for traffic and start crossing.”)
• To walk their bicycles or scooters, and carry skates or skateboards while walking across the street in the crosswalk.
• To conduct a vehicle search using the pattern, “left, right, left and over their shoulder for turning traffic”.
• Enter the street according to the sequence: Wait for a gap in traffic stream on your side of the street. Face closest oncoming traffic. Alert oncoming traffic, using your whistle and your hand of “stop” paddle.
• Step off the curb or leave the roadway edge. After traffic stops, walk to the center of the street and stand at the edge of the crosswalk nearest the center of the intersection. Face opposite approaching traffic, if any. Alert opposite approaching traffic as described above.
• Confirm that all traffic has stopped, including any turning vehicles. Do not allow any motorist to cross the crosswalk until you are finished crossing the students.
• Stand in the center of the street facing the intersection on the crosswalk line nearest to the intersection, parallel with the crosswalk. Turn your head towards the students and verbally signal them to begin their search pattern (left, right, left and over their shoulder for turning traffic) and have them proceed across the crosswalk when it is safe to do so.
• Students should not be allowed to run, ride their bikes, skates, scooters, or skateboards while in the crosswalk.
• Exit the street according to the sequence: Wait in the center of the street until the last student of the released group has reached the opposite curb or roadway edge. Walk back to the roadway edge or curb, lower your hand(s) and allow traffice to resume.
• Repeat recommended procedures.
• Signalized Intersection Procedure: Stand on sidewalk or edge of the road on side of street from which students will cross. As students gather, push “WALK” button. Instruct student to wait one step back from the curb edge until verbally signaled to begin the crossing process.
• After completing the vehicle search and determining that it is safe to do so, enter the street with “fresh” green or “WALK” signal.
• Stand in the center of the street facing the intersection on the crosswalk line nearest the intersection, parallel with the crosswalk. Alert oncoming traffic as described above.
• Gain the attention of motorists maneuvering to make right or left turns. Do not allow any motorists to enter crosswalk until the students have finished crossing.
• When the traffic stops, verbally signal the students to begin their search (left, right, left and over their shoulder for turning traffic) and cross when safe.
• Instruct the students to continue walking if the signal changes to “FLASHING DON’T WALK” (FDW).
• Help students learn that FDW means Don’t Start across the street.
• Wait until students have finished crossing the road.
• Return to the edge of the road or curb, lower your hand(s) and allow traffic to resume.

Qualifications

Completion of the 8th grade, with functional skills in reading, writing, and mathematics.