School Crossing Guards Stationed at Select Intersections Through Summer

Starting this week the borough will begin stationing crossing guards at some of the more heavily trafficked and potentially dangerous intersections around town.

The goal is twofold, explained borough manager Tom Metzler: to provide residents an opportunity to cross safely at marked intersections and to bring attention to crosswalks so motorists grow accustomed to stopping for pedestrians trying to cross them.

“We think with enhanced enforcement and public awareness we may be able to get a hold of the pedestrian safety issue,” said Metzler, who’s heard frequent complaints in recent months about the disregard many motorists have for crossing pedestrians. “We can’t ignore it. We've got to do something and we think this may be a viable way to address it.”

Traffic safety officer Timothy Franco has compiled a list of intersections where guards will be stationed over the course of the summer. Ideally, he said, crossing guards will be out assisting pedestrians at select intersections during morning and evening rush hour, and during the lunch hour when manpower permits, seven days per week.

Franco said the guard's duties will encompass both alerting motorists of crosswalks and advising pedestrians how to properly cross the street. Guards may distribute literature to pedestrians who cross improperly, but they will not issue warnings or tickets. They may, however, alert Franco if the situation at a particular intersection continues to be a problem.

"If pedestrians are violating, then police will go there and take necessary enforcement action," he said. "If cars are violating, police may do a crosswalk sting-type operation."

A crosswalk sting, Franco explained, involves sending a plainclothes dummy crosser into a crosswalk-marked intersection with plenty of time for motorists to see him and yield. If the driver does not yield for the crosser, police, who will be stationed on either end of the street, may stop the driver to issue a warning, or a summons, if warranted.

"We used to do that," Franco said. "In the past we got a lot of positive feedback." 

While crossing guards will be out directing pedestrians at select intersections every day of the week for the remainder of the summer, Metzler said it is important to note that parents should not count on guards being at a particular intersection on any given day.

"We do not want to create a false sense of security with parents saying [to their children], 'Oh, you can go that way because guards will cross you,'" he said. "You can’t be sure they’ll be there at the same time every day."

The primary purpose of the initiative, he said, is to raise awareness of the crosswalks. The crossing aspect is secondary.

The cost of the initiative is minimal because, as it is, crossing guards typically collect unemployment over the summer. Metzler reported to council that to employ 10 crossing guards up to 15 hours per week would run the borough about $11,600 for the summer.

Council will receive a report at the end of the summer with the results on the effectiveness of the endeavor.

Here's a preliminary list of intersections where guards may be stationed this summer:

• Fair Lawn Avenue & Plaza Road
• Fair Lawn Avenue & Pollitt Drive
• Fair Lawn Avenue & Saddle River Road
• Fair Lawn Avenue & Chandler Drive
• Plaza Road & High Street
• , mid-block on River Road
• Radburn Train Station, mid-block on Pollitt Drive
• Fair Lawn Avenue & George Street
• Maple Avenue & Henderson Boulevard
• Broadway & Plaza Road
• Morlot Avenue & Hartley Place
• Morlot Avenue & Banta Place
• River Road & Bergen Avenue

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