State law gives a crossing guard the authority to stop traffic with their handheld “STOP” paddle to allow gaps in traffic for pedestrians to safely cross a street.
There is no state law that gives a crossing guard the authority to stand in the middle of the street and direct a vehicle through a STOP sign in violation of Title 39 motor vehicle law.
The intersection of Rahway Ave & Grove St., in front of Edison Intermediate School, is one of the busiest pedestrian crossings in town for students walking to and from school. The intersection has been the scene of multiple accidents involving pedestrians and motor vehicles.
In the picture below, the crossing guard stood in the roadway for several minutes, absent any pedestrians, and directed vehicles through the STOP sign, controlling Grove St., in violation of N.J. motor vehicle law governing crossing guards authority.
This illegal practice has been condoned by the Westfield police department’s traffic safety bureau for years, in order to facilitate the flow of traffic backed up at busy intersections around schools. It’s a safety hazard whether students are present or not.
Often, a crossing guards hand gestures to motor vehicles can be confusing, causing those with the right of way to think they may proceed when the crossing guard is allowing vehicles from the STOP sign controlled street to enter the intersection. This is when accidents can occur.
Representatives from three separate insurance companies, State Farm, All-State, and N.J. Manufacturers, all stated that the motorist at a STOP sign must stop and yield the right of way to oncoming traffic before they proceed safely.
When asked if the presence of a crossing guard directing traffic through a STOP sign relieved a motorist of their legal responsibility to stop, each insurance company representative said “no.” Even if pedestrians are present and crossing the street while the crossing guard holds up a handheld “STOP” paddle to stop all traffic, the crossing guard does not have the legal authority to instruct motor vehicles to proceed through a STOP sign without first coming to a complete stop.
The crossing guard does not have the authority to hold up motor vehicle traffic on the through street, in this case the vehicles on Rahway Ave., in absence of crossing pedestrians.
More egregious is the parking of a motor scooter in the intersection where “No Parking” is posted.
Again, as previously stated, the intersection in front of Edison Intermediate school has been the scene of pedestrian/vehicle accidents and the added distraction of a motor scooter parked illegally, within 20 feet of a crosswalk, contributes to the mayhem.
This is another accident waiting to happen.
Do you have better suggestions to relieve the mass amount of vehicle traffic that builds up every morning and every afternoon?
ReplyDeleteWalk or ride a bike. Having attended elementary, middle, and high school in this town, it seems less and less kids walk to school or carpool.
DeleteLess parents driving kids to school will relieve the mass amount of vehicle traffic every morning and every afternoon.
Wouldn’t traffic be built up because a crossing guard stops traffic due to the amount of children walking to and from school?
ReplyDeleteIt’s not hard to sit and watch traffic at Edison Intermediate get backed up on Rahway Ave almost to the HS because of this.
What’s next, a traffic light?
More kids walking decreases vehicles on the road which decreases backups at crossing points. Consider 15 walking kids standing at an intersection ready to cross as opposed to 15 cars waiting at a STOP sign.
ReplyDeleteLess vehicles on the road means less traffic at intersections.
You’re not necessarily increasing the number of times you stop traffic to cross children but you’re increasing the number of children crossing each time you stop the traffic.
It’s much more efficient to stop traffic 10 times for say, 150 kids, crossing an average of 15 kids each time than it is to direct 150 cars through intersections that are backed up.
I couldn't agree with you more. The crossing guard at West Grove and Summit almost caused me to get into an accident doing what you described. She was trying to wave me through the stop sign but I stopped. The other car ran right past her. She then had the gall to scream at me (my kid is in the car) as to why I didn't follow her direction and run the stop sign. I just heard that the crossing guard at Edison got hit by a BMW today and it kept going. She is supposedly fine.
ReplyDeleteDon't blame the crossing guards. The parents driving their kids to Edison Intermediate School are so distracted, so much in a hurry, they disregard just about everyone's safety! Watch them instead of blaming the crossing guard. Put a light in front of the school on Rahway.
DeleteCrossing guards that remain in the middle of the intersection to direct vehicles through STOP signs in the absence of crossing children is not only dangerous to the crossing guard and motorists, it’s against the law.
DeleteOnly police officers have the authority to wave motorists through a STOP sign without the vehicle coming to a complete stop.
The job of a civilian crossing guard is to pick a break in traffic, hold up a STOP sign hand paddle and stop traffic, then instruct children to cross.
Once the children cross the street, the crossing guard is supposed to exit the intersection.
Kasko, you are an angry middle-aged white man. Perfect example. Only revenge will satisfy you. I wish you would look internally for once and accept that you were and are a flawed person masquerading as someone who is the one who knows all truths.
ReplyDeleteLife is good.
Delete