iowa crossing guard training 5 techniques

Iowa Adult School Crossing Guard Program

Module 5/Crossing Techniques

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MODULE 6 – Crossing Techniques

Module Goal

Participants will understand and utilize proper crossing techniques in their crossing guard duties.

Objective One

Participants 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 Three

Participants will recall proper crossing procedures at different crosswalk types and under bad weather conditions.

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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

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RETRO-REFLECTIVITY

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UNIFORM

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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.

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Visual Distractions and Obstructions

In-Vehicle DistractionsVisual Clutter Visual Barriers

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• 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.

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• Educate Children

– Most visible colors

– Contrasting clothes

– Least visible

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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

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Left Right Left Scan

Midblock Crosswalk

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Left Right Left Over the Shoulder

Intersection Crosswalk

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Continue to Scan while Crossing

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

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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.

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• 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.

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Recommended STOP paddle technique

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SIGNALS AND COMMUNICATION

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Recommended hand signal technique

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• 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

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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.

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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.

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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)

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CROSSING PROCEDURES

Safe Gap Assessment

For most conditions you should pick a gap of at least

150 ft

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CROSSING PROCEDURES

Safe Gap Assessment

For most conditions you should pick a gap of at least

150 ft

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1 Curbside Assembly

CROSSING PROCEDURESUnsignalized Crosswalk

Stand 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.

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2

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

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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.)

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4

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

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5 Take position

CROSSING PROCEDURES


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.

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6

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

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7 Maintain your position

CROSSING PROCEDURES


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.

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8

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

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1

Curbside Assembly

CROSSING PROCEDURES

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2

CROSSING PROCEDURES

Wait for walk indication

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3 Enter crosswalk, stopping near-side traffic

CROSSING PROCEDURES

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CROSSING PROCEDURES

Alert far-side traffic

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5 Take position

CROSSING PROCEDURES

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6

CROSSING PROCEDURES

Initiate crossing

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7 Maintain your position

CROSSING PROCEDURES

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CROSSING PROCEDURES

Return to the starting curb or roadway edge

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SignalizedCrosswalkProcedures

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UnsignalizedCrosswalkProcedures

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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

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CROSSING PROCEDURES

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CROSSING PROCEDURES

Do not cross children during protected Left Turn

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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

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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

iowa crossing guard training 5 techniques

Documents

conspicuity visibility

traffic signals

communications signals

proper crossing techniques

proper crossing procedures

proper crossing behavior

conspicuity vest

adult crossing guard