School Area Safety Program

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Our Efforts

As one in the past, we continue to apply for and implement federal and state grants to upgrade school area warning signs and pavement striping, to construct traffic calming devices, and to work with schools on a comprehensive approach to increasing traffic safety. Specific projects include: upgrading school crosswalks to yellow, ladder-style crosswalks; replacing traditional yellow warning signs with fluorescent yellow-green warning signs; Safe Routes to Schools projects at Flynn Elementary, San Francisco Community Alternative School & Monroe Elementary, Marshall Elementary, and Buena Vista Elementary; and grants from the California Office of Traffic Safety.

We also:

Respond to traffic and pedestrian safety concerns related to schools,
Evaluate intersections for adult school crossing guards,
Coordinate the approval and installation of school bus and passenger loading (white) zones,
Work with individual schools to develop traffic circulation plans,
Coordinate with San Francisco Unified School District and other City departments on multi-jurisdictional issues.

Submit Locations for Repainting School Crosswalks

In 2010, the SFMTA will repaint 30 faded school crosswalks. School crosswalks are yellow and have horizontal stripes like a ladder. If you know of a school crosswalk that could use a new paint job, email laura.stonehill@sfmta.com with the location and attach a picture.

(This is an example of a newly painted school crosswalk)

(This is a faded school crosswalk that could use a new paint job)

Tips for Parents

The American Automobile Association (AAA) provides a traffic safety brochure entitled "Parents can be serious traffic hazards." The first step in combating school traffic dangers is for parents to realize that this is the case.

Aside from causing traffic congestion, parents often double park or stop on crosswalks, blocking visibility for children and other motorists. Visibility is further reduced during the rain and fog seasons when condensation forms on car windows.

Another common problem is parents loading or unloading children across the street from the school, forcing youngsters to cross busy streets – often midblock rather than at a crosswalk. Or children may open the car door and dash directly into the path of an oncoming vehicle.

What can you as a parent do to eliminate these hazards for your child?

Realize that walking is good for kids – and good for the environment. The Centers for Disease Control recently described “the lack of exercise as a worrisome trend"(1) as childhood obesity has increased and health problems such as diabetes have risen dramatically along with it. Auto emissions can contribute to poor respiratory health in children as well. If you are within walking distance of your child's school or bus stop, walk with them during the first week of school to:
Point out possible traffic hazards,

Point out possible traffic hazards,
Teach and practice safe walking habits, and
Designate the safest walking route.

If you are meeting your child at school at the end of the day to walk them home, try to be on the school side of the street when the bell rings. Distracted children spotting parents across the street may dash into the roadway without looking first.

If you must drive your child to or from school, follow these suggestions to minimize traffic hazards:

Carpool with neighbors to reduce the number of cars at the school,
Request that school officials set up a special pick-up and drop-off area. If there is no such area, arrange a place to pick up your children--on the same side of the street as the school and away from congestion,
Ask school officials to dismiss children who walk and bike from school a little earlier than those who ride in cars, and
Comply with the 25mph speed limit in school zones. According to research, neighborhood residents typically drive 10 mph faster than the posted speed limit in school zones. Parents of children attending the school are frequently the offenders.

Our passenger drop-off flyers (pdf) offer some good safety tips for for dropping off and picking up your children. Chinese/ (pdf) and Spanish/Español (pdf) versions are also available.

(1) "Few kids walk or bike to school," Kristen Wyatt, Associated Press. San Francisco Chronicle, August 16, 2002.

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School Traffic Safety Patrol Program

The San Francisco Police Department Traffic Company is enhancing and expanding the School Traffic Safety Patrol Program, with assistance from the California State Automobile Association (CSAA). The safety patrol works with local school staff and interested parents to improve the safety of our City's school children. Emphasis is placed on teaching youth about traffic safety, teamwork, responsibility and community service. Trained volunteer students serve as school crossing guards.

Adult School Crossing Guard Program

Approximately 140 adult school crossing guards serve public and private schools throughout the City, assisting children in arriving and departing safely each day. To request a crossing guard, you will need to fill out a Crossing Guard Request Form and fax it to the number below. Questions regarding the program can be directed to:

Adult School Crossing Guard Program Manager
1 SouthVan Ness Avenue, 7th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94103-5417

415-701-4690
415-701-4739 (fax)

International Walk to School Day

Children from around the world participate in this event held the first Wednesday of each October. Its aim is to improve children's safety and health. While our efforts here in San Francisco are still at the grassroots level, this is an ideal opportunity to call attention to school traffic safety issues threatening SF kids. With parent and teacher support, Walk to School Day can be a springboard for schools to promote traffic safety and to apply for a grant from the Safe Routes to School Program. Walkability checklists allow parents and children to give their route to school a "walkability" score and to make specific suggestions for route improvements. If you are interested in getting involved with Walk to School Day, please call the School Safety Program Manager at415-701-4500.

You may also download the 2007 toolkit (a .pdf file) for more ideas on traffic safety tips and activities.

Safe Routes to School

Safe Routes to School programs began in Canada and England and, building off the success of International Walk to School Day, have become popular in the United States as well. California's program has the stated goal of getting more children traveling safely to school on foot or bike, with greater frequency. This is done through a combination of engineering approaches, increased enforcement, and education for motorists and children. Caltrans has provided $20 million a year for construction projects to reduce speed, narrow crossing distances and improve children's visibility around California schools since 2000. SAFETEA, the federal transportation reauthorization bill, also earmarked money for a federal Safe Routes to Schools program starting in 2007.

Parents and school administrators interested in implementing a Safe Routes program at their own school can access helpful resources via Marin County’s safe routes to schools website. If you are interested in starting a program, getting your school involved in Walk to School Day is a great start.Our Walk to School Day 2007 toolkit (.pdf file) has a lot of good ideas.

Contact Information:

School Area Safety Program Manager
SFMTA-DPT Traffic Engineering
1 S. Van Ness Avenue, 7th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94103-5417
415-701-4500
415-701-4737 (fax)

DPT Enforcement............................................553-1200
SFPD School Traffic Safety Information...................575-6351

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