School Safety Patrol
What is a school safety patrol?
School safety patrols have operated in North America since the early 1920s. Since then, patrols have been established in many countries around the world. By 1939, the program was well established in Vancouver.
Students are involved as school safety patrollers, and are provided with quality training and ongoing recognition for their efforts. Their role is to direct and control students as they cross the road at or near schools.
Working together for student safety
In BC, the School Safety Patrol Program is sponsored by the BCAA Traffic Safety Foundation. The program operates as a partnership involving the Foundation, police, school districts and schools. Each partner assumes specific roles to support the program and to ensure the safety of young children as they arrive at and leave school each day.
The BCAA Traffic Safety Foundation provides equipment, training resources and support to the School Safety Patrol Program.
Police Services are primarily responsible for working with the schools to train patrollers at the beginning of each school year and for ongoing monitoring year round.
School Boards are responsible for approving the use of a BCAA Traffic Safety Foundation–sponsored patrol program in their schools.
Teachers and principals look after daily patrol operations, such as recruiting, scheduling and supervising students in the School Safety Patrol Program.
Duties of a patroller
Patrollers prevent fellow students from entering traffic when it is unsafe. When safe, patrollers direct students to cross.
It is important to recognize the differences between safety patrollers and crossing guards. Crossing guards are adults who are legally empowered to halt vehicular traffic on roadways. Safety patrollers are senior elementary students who do not stop or direct vehicular traffic. Patrollers are only used at crossings where there are gaps in the regular flow of traffic allowing students to safely cross the road.
Who is eligible?
Patrollers must meet certain criteria:
- Usually selected from elementary school students (grades 5 to 7) ranging in age from 10 to 12 years of age.
- Eligibility is dependent on parental consent[PDF]. Parents and/or guardians must read and sign an application form before their child begins patroller training. Membership in the patrol is voluntary. However, some schools require that students participate.
- Must be able to physically perform their duties, which may require long periods of standing outside in adverse weather conditions.
Benefits beyond safety
In addition to protecting school children on their way to and from school, this program inspires patrollers to develop positive relationships with peers and authority figures and establish leadership skills including:
- Citizenship — By experiencing the satisfaction that comes from looking after the safety and welfare of others, patrollers discover the rewards of volunteerism.
- Role models — Patrollers become role models for younger schoolmates who strive to emulate their behaviour.
- Maturity — Patrollers mature as they make a serious effort to perform their duties.
- Teamwork — Co–operation and trust are fostered among patrollers who learn that they are individually accountable to the team. At the same time, their actions reflect upon all patrollers.
Teacher and School co-ordinator information
Part of the BCAA Traffic Safety Foundation’s role in the School Safety Patrol Program is to provide all participants with the resources and information they need to operate a program in their community.
RCMP and Trainer information
- The School Monitoring Form[PDF] that is used to monitor the effectiveness of the School Safety Patrol program.