Florida’s School Crossing Guard Training (FSCGT) Program Presented by: Carol Pulley University of Florida Safety Administrator Florida School Crossing Guard Training Program Safety Office, Florida Department of Transportation Phone: (850)

Pedestrian Safety: Crash Statistics Florida's School Crossing Guard Training Program Traffic Crash Statistics Report

Pedestrian Safety: Crash Rates Significant declines in pedestrian death and injury rates each year, but…. Florida's School Crossing Guard Training Program Traffic Crash Statistics Report 2006,

Importance of School-Age Pedestrian Safety: Types and causes of vehicular and pedestrian crashes 2006: 39% of all 16 and under pedestrian fatalities occurred between 3 and 7 pm In 2005, child pedestrians ages 5 to 9 are at highest risk of being killed or injured due to being hit by a car 2005: Of the 585 traffic fatalities for 5 to 9 age group, 108 (18%) were pedestrians 2006: Of the 516 fatalities, 104 (20%) were pedestrians Florida's School Crossing Guard Training Program

Importance of School-Age Pedestrian Safety: Types and causes of vehicular and pedestrian crashes Approximately 40% of all crashes involving pedestrians occur at intersections 77% of pedestrian fatalities among 14 and younger were at non-intersection locations In Florida, roadway midblock (not crosswalk) was the action resulting in injury among 5 to 14 year olds Dart/Dash crash type is the most prevalent type among school-age children Florida's School Crossing Guard Training Program

Importance of School-Age Pedestrian Safety: Types and causes of vehicular and pedestrian crashes Pedestrian in school zone is most at risk when: 14 years old or younger Running, and Crossing at midblock, Crossing within 50 feet of an intersection, or Crossing against a signal, and Motorist is either going straight or making right turn Visibility/environmental factors Florida's School Crossing Guard Training Program

Importance of School-Age Pedestrian Safety: Dart/dash crash type Florida's School Crossing Guard Training Program

Importance of School-Age Pedestrian Safety: Turning vehicles Florida's School Crossing Guard Training Program

Educating School-Age Pedestrians: Children are different than adults! Guards need to understand the perspective and limitations of children in traffic Lower eye level Restricted field of view Diminished judgment skills/lack of experience I see them, they see me Hearing differences Intense focus on single activity Parents’ expectations Florida's School Crossing Guard Training Program

Florida School Crossing Guard Training Program

FSCGT Program Safety of Florida’s Students! Florida's School Crossing Guard Training Program

FSCGT Program’s Purpose Establish school crossing guard guidance and provide standardized training to local agency trainers to ensure school crossing guards throughout the state understand proper crossing procedures and recognize hazardous situations. Florida's School Crossing Guard Training Program

FSCGT Program Train guards to: Use proper crossing techniques consistently Encourage patterns of proper crossing behavior by students Deter students from committing unsafe/unlawful acts Recognize and report hazardous conditions Take proper actions in an emergency Know their responsibilities and limitations of authority Exhibit professionalism and instill confidence Earn students’ respect Florida's School Crossing Guard Training Program

Florida School Crossing Guards Training Program Receive training in working with children so as to understand how children interact with traffic Distinct from directing traffic or police officers duties Florida's School Crossing Guard Training Program

Crossing Guards: Safety coaches before and after school Ensures that students do not cross until it is safe to do so Using proper crossing techniques Setting the example Instructing and reinforcing safe crossing techniques Being visible and conspicuous to motorists Florida's School Crossing Guard Training Program

Crossing Guards: Safety coaches before and after school Coaches children to use proper traffic search procedures for crossing a street Reinforce safe street practices (look left, right, left and over shoulder at corners) Looking L-R-L before entering street reduces midblock dart-out or dash crashes Florida's School Crossing Guard Training Program

Educating School-Age Pedestrians Educating children reduces pedestrian injury and death Florida's School Crossing Guard Training Program

Crossing Guards Enhance School Zones “Safety of trips to and from school can be enhanced by sidewalks and proper signalization, but also by well- trained adult crossing guards and selective police enforcement. Certain warning signs (e.g., flashing school speed limit signs) and markings (e.g., school crosswalks) are also appropriate and beneficial to pedestrians in many school zones.” A Review of Pedestrian Safety Research in the United States and Abroad, p.3, 124 Florida's School Crossing Guard Training Program

Florida School Crossing Guard Training Program New Website and Crossing Guard Management System

FDOT Safety Office Programs Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Programs: Florida Traffic and Bicycle Safety Education Program Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Florida School Crossing Guard Training Program Florida's School Crossing Guard Training Program

FDOT Safety Office Programs: Florida Traffic and Bicycle Safety Education Program Mission is to prevent injuries to children from bicycle and pedestrian crashes by training them with the knowledge and skills needed to be competent and safe in traffic. Florida's School Crossing Guard Training Program

FDOT Safety Office Programs: Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Florida's School Crossing Guard Training Program

FDOT Safety Office Programs: Safe Routes to School (SRTS) To enable and encourage children, including those with disabilities, to walk and bicycle to school To make bicycling and walking to school a safer and more appealing transportation alternative, thereby encouraging a healthy and active lifestyle from an early age, and To facilitate the planning, development, and implementation of projects and activities that will improve safety and reduce traffic, fuel consumption, and air pollution in the vicinity of schools. Florida's School Crossing Guard Training Program

Crossing Guards as a Resource Relationships Traffic Engineer Schools School Resource Officer Crossing guard supervisor can participate on: Student/Pedestrian Safety Committees School Traffic Safety Team Community Traffic Safety Team (CTST) Contact your Crossing Guard Coordinator today! County Sheriff’s Office City’s Police Department Florida's School Crossing Guard Training Program

Florida School Crossing Guard of the Year Florida's School Crossing Guard Training Program

Questions? Florida's School Crossing Guard Training Program

Florida’s School Crossing Guard Training (FSCGT) Program Carol Pulley Phone : (850)