City Officials Urge Motorists to Watch for Crossing Guards

Officials remind motorists to be aware of crossing guards scattered throughout the city when students return to class next week, assisting children and their parents  walking and biking to school.

Drivers are urged to use caution near school neighborhoods, plan routes away from heavy school traffic if travel is time-sensitive, and to obey posted school speed limits and crossing guard signals.

Failure to obey school crossing guard directions—including stopping at least 25 feet from a crossing guard displaying a signal to stop—is a violation of New Hampshire law and carries a $100 fine for the initial offense, and a $250 penalty for subsequent offenses in the same calendar year.

Crossing guards will be posted at the following times and locations on school days:

• 7 a.m. to 7:30 a.m., and 2:30 p.m. to 2:55 p.m. - South Street at Summit Street, Lafayette Road at Alumni Drive;
• 7:15 a.m. to 7:40 a.m., and 2 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. - Middle School rear entrance and Rogers Avenue, and Rogers Avenue at Parrott Avenue
• 7:45 a.m. to 8:15 a.m., and 2:15 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. - Dennett Street at Franklin Drive
• 8:15 a.m. to 8:50 a.m., and 3 p.m. to 3:25 p.m. - South Street at Junkins Avenue, Clough Drive and Sagamore Avenue
• 8:35 a.m. to 9 a.m., and 3 p.m. to 3:20 p.m. - Van Buren Avenue at Fillmore Road

For a map of school crossing guard locations, see www.cityofportsmouth.com/transportation/schoolcrossinglocations2012web.pdf.

Submitted by Tom Cocchiaro, Parking Operations Supervisor, City of Portsmouth