crossing guard training module 5 techniques

Iowa Adult School Crossing Guard Program

Module 5/Crossing Techniques

MODULE 6 – Crossing Techniques

Module GoalParticipants will understand and utilize proper crossing techniques in

their crossing guard duties.Objective OneParticipants will recall the use of school crossing guard equipment

and proper hand gestures and verbal commands.Objective Two Participants will recall the importance of visibility and conspicuity.Objective ThreeParticipants will recall proper crossing procedures at different

crosswalk types and under bad weather conditions.

VIDEO CLIP

EQUIPMENT• A fluorescent and retro-

reflective vest • A retro-reflective Stop Paddle

and/or flourescent or retro-reflective orange or yellow-green gloves. – If dark need retro-

reflectivity on gloves!!• A whistle

RETRO-REFLECTIVITY

UNIFORM

VISIBILITY AND CONSPICUITY

Definitions

Visibility Quality or fact or degree of

being visible; perceptible by the eye or obvious to the eye.

Conspicuity The state or quality of being

clear or bright; brightness; conspicuousness.

• Visibility and conspicuity contribute to safety of guard and students.

• Fluorescent / retroreflective vest makes guards more conspicuous to motorists while in the street, reducing pedestrian / vehicle crashes

• Guard’s presence (visibility) tends to deter unlawful / unsafe acts by pedestrians and motorists

• Visual Distractions, Obstructions, and Conditions– Visual clutter– Visual barriers– In vehicle distractions– Outside vehicle distractions– Weather– Night / Low light conditions

• Many pedestrian-related crashes occur because the driver’s vision was obscured, the driver was inattentive, or the pedestrian was not visible to the driver.

Visual Distractions and Obstructions

In-Vehicle DistractionsVisual Clutter Visual Barriers

• Vest• Stop paddle and/or

gloves• Whistle• Hand gestures• Make eye contact - Be

sure you are seen before stepping in the roadway and crossing students.

• Educate Children

– Most visible colors

– Contrasting clothes

– Least visible

• Educate Children • See and Be Seen -

– Drivers need to see you to avoid you.– Stay out of the driver's blind spot.– Make eye contact with drivers when crossing busy

streets.– Hold out your arm and wait for traffic to stop

before crossing– Wear bright colors or reflective clothing and carry a

flashlight when walking in the dark.• Do not let kids play near traffic or cross the street by

themselves.• Kids are small, and drivers may not see them if they run

into the street.

PROPER SEARCH PATTERN

A common theme in major crash types is the failure of the pedestrian to search properly before entering the travel lane.

One of the roles of the adult crossing guard is to reinforce proper crossing behavior.

• Within the crosswalk, stop at the edge of the road• Look LEFT – RIGHT – LEFT again for traffic• If at an intersection, look over your shoulder for turning vehicles• Keep scanning as you cross the road

Left Right Left Scan

Midblock Crosswalk

Left Right Left Over the Shoulder

Intersection Crosswalk

Continue to Scan while Crossing

Crossing guards need to insist that students perform the proper search pattern each and every time.

SIGNALS AND COMMUNICATIONS

• All communications must be uniform, crisp and clearly informative so that both motorists and pedestrians will know what is expected of them.

• HAND signals / movements and whistle are to be used with motorists.

• VERBAL messages only are to be used with pedestrians.

• Signals and communication with motorists:– Students about to enter or in crosswalk (Stop and yield) – Stop paddle – with arm parallel to ground, raised

perpendicular– Gloved hand – raised arm forward, parallel to the ground with

palm and fingers extended toward traffic• If a driver disregards the STOP paddle, blow one long blast on the

whistle to warn the driver while pointing and looking directly at him.

Recommended STOP paddle technique

SIGNALS AND COMMUNICATION

Recommended hand signal technique

SIGNALS AND COMMUNICATIONS• Communication with students

• Prior to guard entering roadway, verbally remind students to– Stay at least one step behind “stay-back line”– Look LEFT-RIGHT-LEFT (and over the shoulder if at

an intersection)– When entering roadway to stay in crosswalk and

walk, don't run.• After guard is in roadway and it is safe to cross

– Verbally tell students they can cross– Remind them to continue scanning for traffic.ind them

to continue scanning for traffic

CROSSING PROCEDURES

• Remember

• You do not direct traffic in the regulatory law enforcement sense.

• You choose adequate gaps in traffic or create adequate gaps in traffic to safely cross students – using pedestrian and / or traffic signals if present

• At these times your presence serves as an easily recognizable cue that pedestrians are about to use the crosswalk, and drivers must stop.

VIDEO CLIP

CROSSING PROCEDURES

• Safe Gap Assessment

• Stopping Distance - The minimum distance in which a vehicle can be brought to rest in an emergency from the moment that the driver notices danger ahead. Stopping distances of vehicles can be estimated by using the formula:

– Stopping distance = thinking distance + braking distance

• The thinking distance is the time taken for the driver to react by applying the brakes of the vehicle. This is known as the reaction time.

CROSSING PROCEDURES

30 mph

0 1 2 3 4 5

Seconds

Braking time

Safe Gap Assessment

For most road conditions you should pick a gap of at least 150 ft

Reaction timeStopping distance = thinking distance + braking distance

Normal road conditions and level grade (estimate only)

CROSSING PROCEDURES

Safe Gap Assessment

For most conditions you should pick a gap of at least

150 ft

CROSSING PROCEDURES

Safe Gap Assessment

For most conditions you should pick a gap of at least

150 ft

VIDEO CLIP

1 Curbside Assembly

CROSSING PROCEDURESUnsignalized CrosswalkStand on curb or behind edge of

roadway on the side of the street where students approach.

Keep students at least one step back from the curb or roadway edge. If a yellow “stand-back” line is marked or taped on sidewalk, it should be at least 3 feet behind the curb.

Ask a child who arrives on a bicycle, scooter, or skateboard to dismount and walk the bicycle or scooter or carry the skateboard when crossing.

CROSSING PROCEDURES

Unsignalized Crosswalk

As children collect, wait for an opportune time to create a sufficient gap in traffic. Make a final scan for traffic before entering the roadway.

Remind children to wait for your verbal direction before starting to cross.

Select an opportune time

3 Enter crosswalk, stoppingnear-side traffic

CROSSING PROCEDURES

Raise and display the STOP paddle as you walk to the middle of the roadway. (If using gloves and not using a STOP paddle, make the hand signal to traffic on the near-side approach with the left arm, continuing to hold your upraised palm to that approach as you walk to the middle of the roadway.)

CROSSING PROCEDURES

As you approach the middle of the roadway, check that the STOP paddle is clearly visible to that approach as well. (If using gloves and not a STOP paddle, make the hand signal with your right arm to traffic on the far-side approach.)

Stop far-side traffic

5 Take position

CROSSING PROCEDURESUnsignalized Crosswalk

Position in the middle of the street, just outside the crosswalk on the side closest to the approach with greater apparent risk of traffic conflict and face that approach, continuing to display the STOP paddle to both approaches. (If using gloves and not a STOP paddle, keep both arms extended horizontally to your sides.) Make a final check that traffic on both approaches has stopped.

CROSSING PROCEDURES

Turn your head toward the waiting children and, making eye contact, verbally direct them to search for traffic as described, and to proceed when the way is clear.

Initiate Crossing

7 Maintain your position

CROSSING PROCEDURESUnsignalized Crosswalk

As children cross behind you, do not allow any driver to cross the crosswalk until the last child of the released group has reached the opposite curb or roadway edge.

CROSSING PROCEDURES

Remain alert for traffic and continue to display the STOP paddle until you have left the roadway. (If using gloves and not a STOP paddle, do not lower your upraised hand to the near-side approach until you have left the roadway.)

Return to the starting curb or roadway edge

Curbside Assembly

CROSSING PROCEDURES

Wait for walk indication

3 Enter crosswalk, stopping near-side traffic

CROSSING PROCEDURES

Alert far-side traffic

5 Take position

CROSSING PROCEDURES

Initiate crossing

7 Maintain your position

CROSSING PROCEDURES

Return to the starting curb or roadway edge

SignalizedCrosswalkProcedures

UnsignalizedCrosswalkProcedures

CROSSING PROCEDURES• Four or More Lanes• At a signalized or unsignalized

crossing with four or more lanes, two guards should be assigned. Each handles one side of the street.

• Guard on side with children initiates

• Use applicable procedures for that side only

• Proceed to middle of traffic lanes

• Other guard simultaneously alerts and enters roadway

• Crosses children the rest of the way

CROSSING PROCEDURES

CROSSING PROCEDURESDo not cross children during protected Left

CROSSING PROCEDURES• Do

– Always review the proper search pattern before crossing

– Maintain control– Always cross students when

the light is green– Always use pedestrian

signals if available– Always be clear and concise

with your signals– Establish eye contact– Remain alert– See and Be Seen– Report dangerous vehicle

violations– Report uncooperative

students

• Don't– Don't assume that cars will

stop– Don't assume cars will

remain stopped– Don't cross students if a

vehicle is stopped in the crosswalk

MANAGING BAD WEATHER

• Inclement weather tends to make people hurry and pay less attention• Roads become slippery and stopping distances are increased• Visibility may be reduced• Electrical storms are dangerous and may disrupt traffic signals

• if traffic signal out – do not cross children / call 911

MANAGING BAD WEATHER• In lower visibility - See and Be

Seen– Ensure you have motorist's

attention before crossing– Make eye contact– One long blast on whistle– Consider retro-reflective

traffic cones or in-crosswalk panels

• Lightning– If in vicinity take shelter and

advise children to do same– If a flashing red light – cross

with caution / treat as multi-way stop

– If traffic signal out – don't cross children/call 911

• In rain conditions– Increase gap distances due to

slippery roads– Reduced motorist peripheral

vision– Wear rain jacket for comfort

with vest on outside– No umbrella– Kids will want to run to get out

of the rain – make them walk– Increased parent pick-up traffic

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