WASHINGTON (AP) — Anthony Taylor, a school crossing guard in Indianapolis, will always remember the terrified look on a young boy's face as he approached the crosswalk. The boy was in a car with his mother, who was dropping him off at Washington Township High School when they unexpectedly rushed towards the intersection. Taylor recalled that moments later, he experienced a traumatic incident that left him with a fractured pelvis and other serious injuries following a collision with a vehicle in August 2018.
Despite his significant injuries and the subsequent surgery, Taylor returned to his position. His story highlights a grim reality faced by school crossing guards across the United States. Over the past decade, an investigation conducted by The Associated Press and Cox Media Group revealed that hundreds of these guards, often older individuals, have sustained injuries or even lost their lives due to being struck by vehicles. Unfortunately, there is no comprehensive national database tracking the injuries and fatalities among crossing guards, making it difficult to understand the full scope of the problem.
The investigation uncovered that, across 37 states and Washington, D.C., 230 school crossing guards were hit by vehicles, resulting in nearly three dozen fatalities. This data, derived from accident reports and local police records, only represents a fraction of the incidents across the nation. There exists a systemic gap in recording these incidents, as local police often do not differentiate between crossing guards and other pedestrians in their reports.
A concerning trend from the investigation is that drivers involved in incidents with crossing guards frequently face minimal repercussions. Among the 183 incidents analyzed, almost half resulted in traffic citations, and about a quarter of the drivers received no violations at all. Several factors, including weather and driver negligence, influence whether charges are brought against those involved in these accidents.
The safety of crossing guards remains an underreported issue, despite their critical role in protecting children in school zones. Experts have called for improved safety measures, such as installing smart crosswalk systems, employing raised crosswalks, and using automated speed enforcement. However, much of the responsibility for improving safety falls on community efforts to educate and inform motorists about the importance of slowing down in school zones and being mindful of crossing guards.
Many crossing guards, predominantly older adults, have expressed enjoyment in their work but also recount daily near-misses with careless drivers. These near-accidents often go unreported, yet they underscore a culture of negligence among some motorists. Recent incidents, like the case of Stanley Brucker, a crossing guard in South Carolina who was fatally struck while directing traffic, exemplify the dire consequences these guards sometimes face while on duty.
Familial and community responses following these tragedies often highlight accountability issues. Brucker's family filed a lawsuit against the school district and the driver, claiming negligence in choosing crossing guard locations amidst dangerous traffic conditions. In a separate incident, James Arthur Holland, a crossing guard in Kentucky, was killed without the driver facing criminal charges due to lack of evidence of recklessness.
Professionals in law enforcement acknowledge the complexities involved in determining whether to charge drivers in these accidents, often attributing discretion to individual circumstances surrounding each case, including environmental factors like glare from the sun.
Other road challenges also threaten crossing guard safety, including higher vehicle hoods creating blind spots, insufficient traffic calming measures in school zones, and poorly designed roadways that prioritize vehicle traffic over pedestrian safety.
Advocates for crossing guard safety argue for stricter penalties for traffic violations in school zones to deter dangerous driving behaviors. Some former police officials advocate for more robust enforcement policies and increased police visibility during school hours to prevent accidents.
As efforts to increase awareness and promote safety measures continue, many crossing guards actively seek solutions through social media platforms to share experiences and advocate for reforms. Some have invested in personal safety equipment, such as body cameras, to enhance their protection on the job. They emphasize the need for drivers to respect both their safety and that of the children they guard, as many crossing guards remain committed to their vital responsibilities despite the risks they encounter.
Ultimately, the importance of crossing guards cannot be overstated, as they play a crucial role in ensuring children navigate busy streets safely. The commitment shown by individuals like Anthony Taylor, who returned to the job despite serious injuries, reflects the dedication of crossing guards everywhere to their role in community safety.
