PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION

With more and more children walking to school than ever before because of budget cuts in local school districts, there is a greater need for motorists and pedestrians to look out for each other. Unfortunately, when drivers ignore school zones and exceed the speed limits, children are at risk for being injured by a motor vehicle.

The Washington Traffic Safety Commission (WTSC) has aggressively targeted school zones in an effort to make them safety zones for students. An annual, statewide public information campaign reminds motorists to slow down in school zones, and watch for children riding bikes and walking to and from school. This campaign is coupled with enforcement activity where officers pay close attention to motorists driving through school zones. With a posted speed limit of 20 mph, the minimum fine for speeding in a school zone is $157, half of which goes to the School Zone Safety Account. This money is dedicated to the promotion of school zone safety. The fine cannot be waived, suspended, or reduced.

During the 2000-2001 academic year, WTSC distributed two sets of new crossing guard flags and vests to every elementary school in the state. The cost for this project was $75,000, paid by the School Zone Safety Account. Following distribution of the flags and vests, WTSC received an overwhelming number of requests from schools and local law enforcement agencies for formalized school zone training.

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

The WTSC aimed to create and distribute a School Safety Patrol Curriculum designed to assist the student crossing guards in their duties. The curriculum, which would serve as a clear and standardized educational tool, would also address the responsibilities of running a successful program.

A committee of law enforcement, educators, engineers, traffic safety, and insurance representatives was formed to develop the curriculum. Their goal was to:

• provide a user-friendly toolkit for schools on school zone safety;

• outline and explain the state’s school zone laws;

• suggest solutions to common problems in school zones;

• develop a video that outlined the responsibilities and importance of a crossing guard;

• educate parents on traffic safety in and around the school;

• provide portions of the toolkit in multiple languages; and

• encourage local law enforcement to become involved in individual school programs.

STRATEGIES AND ACTIVITIES

WTSC arranged for a signed letter from the Governor to accompany the School Safety Curriculum Kit and Resource Guide; both items were sent to every elementary school (public and private) and all law enforcement agencies in the state. The kit includes a videotape; attractively printed inserts for supervisors, principals, and crossing guards; and an evaluation form. Parent safety tips are also provided in six different languages.

RESULTS

At this writing, the curriculum is being distributed and kits will be updated every two or three years to reflect changes in the law or other safety factors or concerns.

Plans are in the works for training that will be offered at pre-determined sites for school personnel, law enforcement, and traffic safety advocates to ensure the goal and guidelines of this curriculum are met.

A School Zone Safety Account funded the project. The funds were spent on design, video production, printing, and assembling 3,000 kits. This is enough for 1,135 elementary schools, 350 law enforcement agencies, and traffic safety advocates in the state.

   WINTER 2002