Across the United States, school crossing guards play a crucial role in ensuring children's safety as they navigate their way to and from school. However, an investigation conducted by AP and Cox Media Group has uncovered that this essential job is fraught with danger.
Key findings from the investigation indicate:
- No systematic tracking exists for the number of crossing guards injured or killed each year.
- Over the past decade, at least 230 school crossing guards in 37 states and Washington, D.C. were hit by vehicles, resulting in nearly three dozen fatalities.
- The available data is likely only a fraction of the actual numbers, as it was compiled from police reports requested from nearly 200 departments.
Starkly, drivers who strike crossing guards are seldom charged with a crime; out of 183 incidents analyzed, nearly half resulted merely in traffic citations, while a quarter faced no repercussions at all. The investigation highlighted how crossing guards rank among the most hazardous professions, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics categorizing them with road construction workers but failing to provide detailed data on their fatalities.
Only New Jersey and Massachusetts have made significant strides in tracking guard safety, enforcing rigorous inspections and mandatory injury reporting after serious incidents. Experts point to the increase in larger vehicles as a contributing factor to these fatalities, citing poor visibility and a lack of effective traffic-calming measures like speed bumps in many urban school zones.
The demographic of crossing guards is also concerning; many are seniors who may face additional risks on the job. The revelations from this investigation call for urgent actions to improve the safety and protection of crossing guards to ensure they can continue their vital work in protecting children.
