Crossing Guards

Performing approximately 1.5 million crossings each school year through all weather conditions, Oshawa's crossing guards provide an invaluable service to our community.

Crossing guards are employees of the City and are community members of the neighbourhood where they work. Crossing guards are governed by the Ontario Highway Traffic Act and trained to safely assist students to and from school.

Crossing Guard Employment Opportunities

Safety reminders for motorists

When driving, motorists are encouraged to take special care and follow these safety reminders:

• Be observant of children when in a school area and be ready to stop at all times
• Be patient and wait for children to complete their crossing before proceeding
• Reduce speed in school zones
• Stop when a crossing guard holds up a stop paddle 
• Obey school bus flashers
• Obey yield, stop, traffic signal controls, and traffic signs
• If you are dropping off or picking up children from school, be mindful of children walking around your vehicle and other vehicles as small children often cannot be seen, nor do they pay attention to you as a driver or your moving vehicle

Three Whistle System

1. First Whistle: The School Crossing Guard blows the first whistle, enters the roadway, holds up the stop sign, and ensures that traffic has stopped. Children stay on the sidewalk until the School Crossing Guard blows the second whistle.
2. Second Whistle: The School Crossing Guard blows the second whistle when it is safe for the children to cross.
3. Third Whistle: Once the children have safely crossed the roadway, the School Crossing Guard leaves the roadway and when the School Crossing Guard is safely off the roadway, the School Crossing Guard would then blow the third whistle to signify the crossing has ended and the traffic can proceed.

General rules for all crossings

When students and adults arrive at a crossing, they should stand at least one metre from the curb. The City of Oshawa uses a two whistle system. When ready to enter the crossing, the crossing guard will check the traffic, blow the first whistle to alert motorists and enter the crosswalk. The crossing guard will blow a second whistle when it is safe for the children and adults to enter the crossing. When a crossing guard raises the stop sign, drivers and cyclists must stop before reaching the crossing.

The crossing guard's sign has the same authority as a regular stop sign. Everyone must walk quickly at the crossing and stay between the white lines safely and appropriately. Running and extremely slow walking is not allowed. Bikes and skateboards must be walked within the crossing. Please do not bounce balls, skip rope or horseplay while waiting to be crossed or while in the crossing.

Adults accompanying children are expected to follow all the rules to set an example for the children. The needs of the school area and the time schedules of the schools determine the hours that crossing guards spend on duty. Crossing guards cannot cross anyone if there is a vehicle stopped in the crossing.

School crossings at traffic signals

In addition to the general rules, the following also applies to signalized crossings. No one should enter the crossing once the flashing Don't Walk signal, or an amber traffic light has been activated. The crossing guard will stay in the crossing until the last child has reached the beginning of the furthest lane of traffic away from the crossing guard. The crossing guard will follow the children off the street if the children are crossing in the direction of the crossing guard's workstation. At signalized crossings, high school students and senior citizens will be crossed by the crossing guard if asked to do so. To assist in setting an example for the younger children, high school students and senior citizens should always follow the rules.

School crossings without traffic signals

In addition to the general rules, the following also applies to unsignalized crossings.

The crossing guard will stay in the crossing until all the children have reached the sidewalk. The crossing guard will follow the children off the street if the children are crossing in the direction of the crossing guard's workstation. At unsignalized crossings, the crossing guard is responsible for crossing everyone. Anyone not wanting assistance should cross elsewhere while the crossing guard is on duty.

Safety patrollers

Safety patrollers assist the crossing guard at some locations. Their job is to hold the children back from the curb until the crossing guard is ready to cross them. At some locations, safety patrollers have long handled signs that are held out to stop the curb lane from proceeding. They are trained and supervised by the school, the police and the crossing guard.