Would Assign More Agents Near Schools
Assemblyman Michael DenDekker and State Sen. Diane Savino of Staten Island are sponsoring legislation to increase the presence of school crossing guards in New York City in the wake of the tragic deaths of two schoolchildren in trafficrelated accidents.
This legislation requires a school crossing guard be placed on each corner of a city block on which there is a public or private school with students enrolled in kindergarten through eighth grade. It also requires additional crossing guards on the opposite corners of these intersections if the roadway has four or more traffic lanes.
“We cannot expect children to cross high-traffic roadways with no supervision from a crossing guard. I want to protect the children of New York City, and put an end to completely preventable accidents such as those that caused the deaths of two children in my district in the last year,” said DenDekker.
In December 2012, 11-year-old Miguel Torres was struck by a truck and killed while crossing at 80th St and Northern Blvd to I.S. 145. Almost exactly a year later, 8-yearold Noshat Nahian was struck and killed at 61st St and Northern Blvd on his way to P.S. 152.
In both instances ,the children were crossing the street unattended.
In 2013, 173 pedestrians were killed in traffic-related accidents in New York City. Currently, there are no requirements for additional crossing guards in high-traffic areas bordering schools.
