Chapter 7D. Crossing Supervision¶
§7D.01 Adult Crossing Guards¶
Support
00.1 There are three types of school crossing supervision:
- A. Adult control of pedestrians and vehicles by adult crossing guards,
- B. Adult control of pedestrians and vehicles by uniformed law enforcement officers, and
- C. Student and/or parent control of only pedestrians with student and/or parent patrols.
Option
01. Adult crossing guards may be used to provide gaps in traffic at school crossings where an engineering study has shown that adequate gaps need to be created, and where authorized by law. Adult crossing guards may act as a school bus flagger (see Section 7D.02.1).
Support
02. Adult crossing guards can also add conspicuity at the crossing where children, who are typically smaller in stature, might not be as visible.
03. High standards for selection of adult crossing guards are essential because they are responsible for the safety of and the efficient crossing of the street by schoolchildren within and in the immediate vicinity of school crosswalks.
Guidance
04. Jurisdictions should have policies and procedures for the qualifications, selection, and training of adult crossing guards. Any policies or procedures discussed in Paragraph 4 in this Section should be approved by the Road Authority.
Support
04.2 Information regarding the organization, administration and operation of a school safety patrol program is contained in the current version of the “AAA School Safety Patrol Operations Manual”. The most recent version of the "School Crossing Guard Brief Guide" provides information on roles, rules, and guidance for crossing guard selection, placement, training, and uniform.
§7D.02 Operating Procedures for Adult Crossing Guards¶
Standard
01. Law enforcement officers performing school crossing supervision and adult crossing guards shall wear high-visibility retroreflective safety apparel labeled as ANSI 107-2020 standard performance for Class 2, Type R, as described in Section 6C.05.
02. Adult crossing guards shall not direct traffic in the usual law enforcement regulatory sense. In the control of traffic, they shall pick opportune times to create a sufficient gap in the traffic flow. At these times, they shall stand in the roadway to indicate that pedestrians are about to use or are using the crosswalk, and that all vehicular traffic must stop.
03. Adult crossing guards shall use a STOP paddle. The STOP paddle shall be the primary hand-signaling device.
04. The STOP paddle shall comply with the provisions for a STOP/SLOW paddle (see Section 6D.02) except both sides shall be a STOP face.
05. The paddle shall be retroreflective or illuminated when used during hours of darkness.
§7D.02.1 Adult School Bus Flaggers¶
Option
01. Adult school bus flaggers may be used to stop and hold buses and vehicular traffic at school entrances and exits to allow buses to enter or exit a street or highway having a speed limit of 35 miles per hour or less.
Support
02. Minnesota Statute 169.06, subd 4b contains provisions for school bus flaggers.
Standard
03. Adult school bus flaggers shall follow the same procedures and equipment standards as in Section 7D.02.
Guidance
04. A Multi-lane roadway should utilize additional school bus flaggers.