908.4 Crossing Supervision (MUTCD Chapter 7D)
908.4.1 Adult Crossing Guards (MUTCD Section 7D.01)
Standard. Adult crossing guards acting for the school district shall be used to provide gaps in traffic at school crossings on the state highway system during times when school children are present before and after school is in session. A school-crossing contract providing for an adult crossing guard shall be required before a marked and signed school crossing is established.
Support. The school crossing contracts can be found in EPG 153.21 Traffic Agreements and Contracts. The District Engineer is authorized to sign all school crossing contracts.
Adult crossing guards add conspicuity at the crossing where children, who are typically smaller in stature, might not be as visible.
High standards for selection of adult crossing guards are essential because they are responsible for the safety of and the efficient crossing of the street by schoolchildren within and in the immediate vicinity of school crosswalks.
Guidance. School districts should have policies and procedures for the qualifications, selection, and training of adult crossing guards.
908.4.1 Operating Procedures for Adult Crossing Guards (MUTCD Section 7D.02)
Standard. Law enforcement officers performing school crossing supervision and adult crossing guards shall wear high-visibility retroreflective safety apparel labeled as ANSI 107-2020 standard performance for Class 2, Type R, as described in EPG 616.3.5.
Adult crossing guards shall not direct traffic in the usual law enforcement regulatory sense. In the control of traffic, they shall pick opportune times to create a sufficient gap in the traffic flow. At these times, they shall stand in the roadway to indicate that pedestrians are about to use or are using the crosswalk, and that all vehicular traffic must stop.
Adult crossing guards shall use a STOP paddle. The STOP paddle shall be the primary hand-signaling device.
The STOP paddle shall comply with the provisions for a STOP/SLOW paddle (see EPG 616.4.2) except both sides shall be a STOP face.
The paddle shall be retroreflective or illuminated when used during hours of darkness.