In brief
Recent findings indicate that school crossing guards, essential for ensuring safe passage for children, face significant dangers on the job. An investigation uncovered that over the last decade, at least 230 guards were injured and nearly 30 fatalities occurred, while many drivers escaped legal repercussions. Factors such as distracted driving, inadequate traffic measures, and the rising age of guards contribute to this alarming trend.
Across the United States, school crossing guards play a crucial role in ensuring the safety of children as they navigate their way to and from school. While many of these dedicated individuals find personal fulfillment in their work, a recent investigation by AP and Cox Media Group Television Stations reveals that their jobs can be fraught with peril.
— The investigation highlights the absence of a systematic method to track injuries and fatalities among crossing guards, with existing data possibly reflecting only a fraction of the real numbers. Over the past decade, at least 230 school crossing guards across 37 states and Washington, D.C., have been struck by vehicles, resulting in nearly three dozen deaths. This data, sourced from incident reports from nearly 200 police departments, underscores the pressing need for improved safety measures.
— Alarmingly, drivers who injure or kill crossing guards often escape without facing criminal charges. Analyzing 183 incidents where the police reached a determination, nearly half resulted in traffic citations, while a significant portion of drivers faced no penalties at all. Police assert that each case must be individually assessed and not all collisions warrant criminal charges.
— Statistical data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that crossing guards occupy some of the riskiest jobs, alongside road construction flaggers. The AP calculated that crossing guards and flaggers rank in the top tier for on-the-job fatalities when compared to nearly 200 job classifications.
— A limited number of states, notably New Jersey and Massachusetts, have taken steps to report and address this issue seriously. Initiatives in these states stem from tragic incidents where crossing guards lost their lives due to negligent driving, leading to enhanced safety inspections in school zones and mandatory reporting of injuries.
— Experts point to distracted driving and excessive speed as primary contributors to these accidents. Additional concerns stem from the design of modern vehicles, particularly larger SUVs and trucks with expansive blind spots. Moreover, many school zones lack vital safety elements such as traffic-calming measures and proper crosswalk visibility.
— It is noteworthy that many crossing guards are older individuals, with over half of the guards documented by the investigation being over the age of 65, raising questions about their safety at busy intersections.
This investigation sheds light on the significant threats faced by school crossing guards and calls for a collective effort to address and mitigate the dangers present in school zones across the nation.
