School traffic safety team manual

Training manual to assist School Traffic Safety Teams maintain their outstanding safety record.

Print version: Traffic wardens (PDF, 94 KB, 4 pages)

Traffic wardens

(legislatively known as school wardens)

What are traffic wardens?

Traffic wardens look out for children who have to cross roads outside their school. Their role is to prevent children from running out onto the road and to ensure that there is a gap in the traffic large enough to allow them to cross quickly and safely.

Traffic wardens are set up in accordance with the Land Transport Rule: Traffic Control Devices 8.8. Although they wear the same uniform as school patrol members, they have no statutory rights to stop or control traffic. Traffic wardens must not extend any object out onto the road that may cause confusion to drivers of approaching vehicles.

Setting up a traffic warden safety team

The location of the traffic warden crossing point should be selected after consultation with the local RCA and the PEO. Consideration should be given to:

• where pedestrians usually choose to cross
• the convenience to children and their parents; a poorly sited crossing point will result in poor usage
• a site that offers the best visibility to both traffic wardens and approaching drivers
• the necessity to restrict parking close to the crossing point to allow clear visibility.

Having decided on the need for and the location of a traffic warden crossing point, the PEO should be contacted to arrange training dates.

Training usually occurs at the end of the final term of the year. A refresher training session is then held early in the new school year.

The school selects responsible students to be trained as traffic wardens and ensures that they have permission from a parent or guardian (see sample letter, Appendix 11). All members of the team must be present for the training.

Traffic wardens and their equipment

Traffic wardens

Traffic wardens must be reliable, punctual and responsible. They should not need reminding that it is their turn to be on duty and they should ensure that they are at the crossing on time. If a team member has not arrived at school, other traffic wardens must be able to arrange for a replacement.

Traffic wardens have many responsibilities. These are:

• to other students: traffic wardens help them cross the road safely
• to parents: traffic wardens look after their children
• to the school: traffic wardens set a good example to the community
• to other team members: traffic wardens must be reliable and work together as a team.

Rosters

A roster should be provided to each traffic warden to take home so that their parents or guardians can ensure they are on time. Rosters should ensure that each team member takes regular turns throughout the year so they are confident and competent in their duty.

Timetable

Traffic wardens should generally be in place 30 minutes before school starts and five minutes before school finishes. It could be useful to survey arrival times of children to determine the most appropriate start time for traffic wardens to be on duty.

The uniform

Traffic wardens must always wear the correct uniform on duty. The uniform identifies them as traffic wardens and makes them more visible to other road users. Traffic wardens do not have to provide their own uniform as these are provided by New Zealand Police, however, they do have to see that it is kept it clean. There are two different uniforms depending on weather conditions. In wet weather or poor visibility, traffic wardens wear raincoats; in dry weather they wear vests. One or other of these uniforms must be worn but not both. Lost or damaged uniforms should be reported to the PEO.

Storage of equipment

Uniforms should be stored in a convenient and secure area. Traffic wardens need to make sure that their uniform is kept clean and the school is responsible for making sure they are kept in a good condition.

Other equipment

A notebook and pencil for the adult supervisor to record details of any vehicles that drive through pedestrian crossings when children are crossing, or fail to give way to children crossing on the CROSS signal at traffic lights.

Number of traffic wardens on duty

Two traffic wardens should be positioned at the crossing point to enable them to have a good view of the road and control of the children. If there is good visibility and low traffic volume, then a single warden can operate. In extremely difficult traffic situations, it may be appropriate to have a third warden in a position that offers an unobstructed view of all traffic. In this case it may be better to investigate a different position for the crossing or to consider a pedestrian crossing with a school patrol.

Traffic warden leaders

The warden who is situated to have the best overall view of the road in both directions is called the leader and should control the operation. The position of the leader will be established or confirmed at training.

Control of children waiting to cross the road

Traffic wardens do not use sticks, poles, flags or any other equipment to manage children waiting to cross the road. One or both arms should be raised horizontally to indicate that children should wait. The raised arm is referred to as the barrier arm. It is important that clear audible commands are given to avoid any confusion for children waiting to cross.

Overview of training

Initial training

The PEO will explain the importance of the traffic warden’s role, the trust that is given to them, and the need for teamwork, reliability and responsibility. They will discuss what to do if any member of the team is unable to carry out their duties, and how to store and care for their uniform and any other equipment. At the initial training, the adult supervisor should be present as well as the teacher in charge of the traffic warden system.

The team then goes to the crossing point to practice. At the crossing, the traffic warden team learns how to judge whether there is a safe gap in the traffic by using reference points such as power poles, signs or road markings as a guide. Following training, new team members should have supervised experience with existing wardens before the end of term.

Refresher training

Early in the new school year, the PEO conducts refresher training at the crossing and checks that rosters have been established. The PEO may also meet with parent and teacher supervisors to ensure that they are aware of the procedures used for the traffic warden system, and that they are aware of the infringement reporting procedures and requirements. This is an ideal opportunity to introduce new-entrant children to the traffic warden team and its operation.

Traffic warden operations

Traffic wardens at an uncontrolled crossing

• Wardens should be positioned on either side of the road so that they have a clear view of any approaching traffic.
• Each warden must remain on their side of the crossing.
• Children should be assembled well back from the kerb.
• Wardens should use outstretched arms as a barrier to prevent children pushing onto the roadway or obstructing their view of approaching traffic.
• Wardens must not use flags or poles of any nature to hold back waiting children, nor should they wave flags at oncoming vehicles in an attempt to stop them.
• Small flags may be issued to small children to hold aloft while crossing and make them more visible to approaching traffic.
• Wardens select a suitable gap in the traffic using the reference points established during training.
• Once the gap is selected, wardens lower their barrier arm and clearly call cross now. Wardens must not cross with the children.
• Wardens raise their barrier arm to prevent any latecomers running onto the road. A clear call of wait should be given to those approaching on the footpath.
• The warden on the opposite side of the road should encourage those on the crossing to walk quickly. Flags are collected once they reach the footpath on the other side. The warden on the opposite side returns the flags when none are left on the assembly side.

Traffic wardens at a pedestrian crossing

The traffic warden operation is the same at a pedestrian crossing as at an uncontrolled crossing, except when a vehicle stops at the pedestrian crossing.

• Wardens quickly check to see that no other vehicles are approaching from the opposite direction.
• If there are no other vehicles, then wardens should quickly call cross now and send the waiting children across the road.
• If a vehicle is approaching from the other direction, then the warden must check to see that it is intending to stop, ie the vehicle is slowing down or giving stop signals. If the vehicle does not show any intention of stopping, then the warden should wave the waiting vehicle on and wait for a better gap in the traffic. If this situation happens regularly then contact should be made with the PEO and local RCA to discuss changing the operation to a kea or school patrol crossing.

NOTE

A pedestrian crossing is separated into two or more crossings only where it is interrupted by a raised traffic island. (Land Transport Rule: Road Users 10.1 (3))

Traffic wardens at traffic signal controlled crossings

At a traffic signal controlled crossing, traffic wardens operate the pedestrian signals as follows:

• The warden controlling the waiting children presses the button and waits for the ‘green walking person’ signal to show.
• The warden then checks for turning traffic where appropriate.
• If it is safe, the warden lowers their arm and calls cross now. The warden on the opposite side of the road should encourage those crossing to walk quickly. Flags are collected once the children reach the footpath.
• To prevent late-comers entering the crossing when the ‘red standing person’ signal is flashing, the warden’s arm should again be raised and a clear call of wait given.

Reporting infringements

Incidents involving children

Misbehaving children may distract or interfere with the safety of the traffic warden operation. The names of these children should be noted and given to the teacher in charge as soon as the traffic warden duty is completed.

Incidents involving vehicles

Any driver who fails to stop when children are already on the pedestrian crossing, does not give way to pedestrians when the ‘green walking person’ signal is displayed or when the ‘red standing person’ signal is flashing at the traffic signals is committing a traffic offence. The adult supervisor should report any infringements.

The traffic wardens or their adult supervisor must try and record as much of the following information as possible (a notebook and pencil should be available):

• registration number of the vehicle
• description of the driver
• type of vehicle
• colour of vehicle.

This information needs to be memorised and recorded as soon as possible.

Other information that should also be recorded:

• date and time of the incident
• direction in which the vehicle was travelling
• location of any children on the crossing and their direction of travel at the time the vehicle passed
• name of witnesses other than the person writing the report.

The teacher in charge of the traffic warden operation should be notified as soon as possible and ensure that all details are recorded quickly and accurately.

Details of the infringement should be reported in writing to the local police station immediately. The infringement report should not be sent to the PEO unless the school has been told to do so.

Related appendices:

Appendix 7: School patrol, traffic warden and school crossing point legislation

Appendix 10: School patrol, traffic warden and school crossing point responsibilities

Appendix 11: Traffic warden letter to parent or guardian

< previous | next >

Page updated: 20 January 2005