Fairfax County School Crossing Guard Trainings Underway

Traffic Safety Officers are meeting with all Fairfax County school crossing guards and providing a “best practices safety training” this week.

The training is being held to update the almost 100 crossing guards on clear understanding of their roles and responsibilities, as well as to provide new uniforms and equipment including new stop sign paddles.

Topics covered by the updated training include:

• proper use of the traffic whistle,
• working with school safety patrols,
• best practices on the safe crossing of children,
• a review of braking distance information and responding to emergencies

Guards are given opportunities to ask questions and discuss crossing issues they’ve experienced. Many of the guards have served their communities for decades, but have not had an opportunity to attend updated trainings. Motorists who are ignore crossing guard signals or comply with safety measures near schools may be reported to uniformed officers.

The primary job of the crossing guard is to supervise the safe crossing of school children, to and from school, including:

• To direct school children and other pedestrians, when necessary, to safely cross the street without unreasonable delay.
• To control vehicular traffic as needed to assure a safe crossing for school children.
• To deter school children and pedestrians from committing unlawful and unsafe acts at the school crossing.
• To inform motorists, through proper hand signals, that pedestrians are about to use the crossing and have the right-of-way.

As a reminder, Fairfax County schools resume Tuesday, Sept. 2, and motorists are asked to be mindful of students in their neighborhoods and build in extra commuting time.

For more information on School Crossing Guard employment, see http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/police/jobs/school-crossing-guard.htm.