The Town of Westfield has hired a company to manage crossing guards at intersections where students need assistance traversing busy intersections.In the past, The Fact of The Matter has brought to light (ex mayor Skibitsky administration) the liability the town incurs by allowing it's crossing guards to remain in the middle of an intersection and illegally direct traffic through STOP signs causing accidents and other close calls, long after pedestrians have crossed.
The crossing guards previously answered to the police department's traffic safety bureau supervisor, who gave crossing guards the permission to direct traffic despite laws prohibiting the practice.A local crossing guard has posted in a Westfield Moms Facebook group asking for patience with the new company's directive that she is NOT to direct traffic. This directive obviously relies on state law for guidance.
So if you must drive your kid(s) to school, be mindful of the fact that the crossing guards are abiding by the law by not directing traffic after they have crossed pedestrians. By law, civilian crossing guards can pick a gap in the traffic, hold up a "STOP" paddle, observe traffic come to a stop, cross pedestrians, then return to the sidewalk/curb.
I totally agree that Crossing Guards can't direct traffic as there is a state law prohibiting it, I'd like to remind everyone reading this that IF a Uniformed Police Officer is covering a Crossing Guard's corner which happens from time to time, that that Uniformed Officer DOES have the Authority to direct traffic as they see fit.
ReplyDeleteWhat is the state statute prohibiting civilian crossing guards from directing traffic.
DeleteThe MUTCD (Manual in Uniform Traffic Control Devices) Section 7E.05 addresses the issue stating that “adult guards should not direct traffic in the usual police regulatory sense.”
We are going to need the Westfield Police directing traffic in front of Edison and the High School. Those are unsafe areas to begin with. The guards at that location made the traffic flow manageable. Rahway and Westfield Ave get backed up as it is and you can't avoid it.
ReplyDeleteI guess that means the entitled residents of Westfield have to start their day earlier to beat traffic.
ReplyDeleteGuaranteed to have more crashes during arrival and dismissal times because ignorant people will be “in a rush”.
This is all Richard Nixon's fault. I love popcorn
ReplyDelete