Stirring the Pot

National "Safe to Cross" Signal: 
An Idea Whose Time has Come

By Jim Ellis | Contributing Editor

I'm all for campaigns to raise public awareness about stopping for school buses.  But we're living in a fantasy world if we think public education or increased law enforcement can eliminate the problem.  The only effective way to protect children is by training them to wait for a signal from the bus driver before proceeding across the street.  Calls for stiffer fines for motorists convicted of passing a bus might make us feel better, but I see no indication increased fines really address the problem.

In my opinion, the time has come for a national, universal crossing signal. 

I'd like to see a nationwide committee convened, including representatives from all the key parties, to pick a model crossing signal for the entire nation.  Then states (or smaller jurisdictions) could adopt it according to their own lights.  (To get the juices flowing in the meantime, I'd love to hear proposals for what the signal should be!)

I realize there are several impediments to realizing this dream. 

First of all, there are still some who don't think it's the bus driver's responsibility to direct children across the road.  This is not an argument I respect.

Others say it's unrealistic to think children can be trained to wait for a driver signal.  This myth could be put to rest by riding a single run with one of the many, many school bus drivers who have done exactly that.

Ironically, the success many jurisdictions have had with crossing signals could be a stumbling block to achieving a nationwide signal.  Folks who have worked hard to implement a consistent signal in their area are not going to take lightly a proposal to change "their" signal.  In New York, for example, we've spent 15 years convincing bus drivers to use the crossing signal adopted by our state.  It's taken that long to get nearly-universal compliance in our state.  Our corps of dedicated safety instructors will want to kill me (again) for suggesting a possible change at this point.  But we all know children's safety is more important than turf.  The issue is not what the signal is - no signal is perfect or can possibly apply to every scenario - but that everyone uses the same one.  Nationwide consistency will be more than worth the trouble.

Another complication in considering a uniform national signal is the variation in student loading and unloading procedures from state to state.  California's procedure is probably the most unique variation, but there are others.  A national crossing signal will have to allow for such variations.  I don't see this as insurmountable, just difficult. 

The final barrier to adopting a national crossing signal is just the sheer work involved in the process.  There's no doubt about it; it will take a great, concerted effort to choose and implement a nationwide crossing signal.  It will be an historic accomplishment for our entire industry.

Source: School Transportation News, March 2006. All rights reserved.