To earn a little extra cash, I signed up to be a substitute crossing guard for my neighborhood. After a thorough background check (including finger-printing) to make sure it was okay to allow me around children, I got the job and was put on call.
I had the opportunity to do the job at one corner for three weeks. The corner in question serves as the bus stop for the high school, junior high school, elementary school, two private schools, and the tech school. At the adjacent corner is a Catholic school. So I have the opportunity to cross a lot of children for the four and a half hours per day I am there.
What I don't understand is, how any driver can miss me in my flourescent vest, standing in the middle of the intersection, holding up a big stop sign. I am not wearing day glo because I look good in it (I don't); and I am not holding up a big stop sign in the middle of the street for my health. It is because there are children crossing the street. But the motorists still go through the intersection!
It takes the youngest children perhaps 10 seconds to cross the street. Are people in such a hurry any more that they can't wait the 10 seconds until I clear them to go? Drivers also have ignorned the school bus' flashing red lights and stop sign that swings out.
I am not a morning person, and have found myself quite amazed at these people. I have even contemplated throwing my stop sign at them. I wonder if that would get thier attention?
I know we all have done something regarding driving that isn't following the rules...we have all done 35 in a 25 zone, maybe even gave the stop sign a jerk of acknowledgement instead of a full stop. But when you see a crossing guard, realize that there will be CHILDREN crossing that street. Would you want YOUR child to be endangered by a driver who can't spare 10 seconds?