by Dr. Radut

School Crossing Guards

Published by DriveSmartBC -

image typical of school crossing guardsSchool crossing guards take on a big responsibility when they are helping our children cross busy highways and intersections on their way to and from school each day. Traffic is in a hurry, the children don't always pay the attention that they should and sometimes the road conditions are poor or visibility is not good. It is not a job to be taken lightly!

The system works well, except when someone disobeys.

The Rule

Rights of way between vehicle and pedestrian

179 (4) A pedestrian, a cyclist, the operator of a regulated motorized personal mobility device or the driver of a motor vehicle must obey the instructions of an adult school crossing guard and of a school student acting as a member of a traffic patrol where the guards or students are

(a) provided under the School Act,

(b) authorized by the chief of police of the municipality as defined in section 36 (1),

(c) if located on treaty lands, authorized by the chief of the police force responsible for policing the treaty lands, or

(d) if located on Nisga'a Lands, authorized by the chief of the police force responsible for policing the Nisga'a Lands.

Failure to obey may result in a traffic ticket with a ticketed amount of $167.00 for all and 3 penalty points if you are a driver.

Intersection Crashes Involving Pedestrians

In 2021, the most recent year of collision statistics published by ICBC, there were 676 crashes involving pedestrians at intersections. Unfortunately, the data tool does not allow for refinement to select only crashes where crossing guards were involved.

Provincial Guidelines

The province publishes a Pedestrian Crossing Control Manual. Chapter 3, which begins on page 139, provides guidance for establishing an adult school crossing guard program.

Using School Crossing Guards

This will not be an easy task judging by my experience with Ecole Oceanside Elementary. Over the course of two and a half years the PAC faced many roadblocks and ultimately did not succeed. Instead they received a Vision Zero grant for portable traffic calming measures including two solar powered speed feedback signs, a crosswalk safety sign, and four drop off safety cones.

Keep Safety in Mind

Please accept that the crossing guard is there to help keep our children safe as they travel to and from school. Follow their instructions carefully.

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Published by Anonymous (not verified) - 2008/11/29 - 07:22 | Permalink

I don't really have a question, rather a few points I like to mention here. I am a professional class 1 driver for more than 20 years and I have a driver's license since 1958. I had no accidents where I was at fault and enjoy the highest discount from ICBC.

I live near a school that has a guarded cross walk and many times I have wondered, how long it will take for an accident to happen. Don't get me wrong, I do not have a problem with school zones or with the speed limits, I have a problem with the way some of those guards are doing their jobs.

Some seem to be on a ego or power trip when they use their stop signs. And we do not educate our kids if they can basically just walk right out onto the street the instant they reach the curb. If there is an intersection with lights, they have to wait for green, like everybody else. So why is it, that those guards can almost jump out onto the road and waive that sign?

Two or five or ten cars have to stop, so two students can walk across, like right now?

My other point has to do with driver's who are going to fast in a school zone. Believe it or not, whenever I see a car going too fast, 9 out of 10 times it's a female driver ( possibly even a mother ). One that would screem and yell if anything would ever happen to one of her children. Why?

Those schoolchildren will be part of our traffic in just a few years and it would only help if we would teach them the right thing as early as possible.

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