Photo: Mary Richards | KSL Newsradio
SALT LAKE CITY — The 2019-2020 school year starts Monday and Tuesday for school districts around the Wasatch Front. And a long-time crossing guard is urging drivers to look up and pay attention because thousands of students will be once again out on the sidewalks and streets.
“My whole focus is how I can get these kids across the street safely without any incidents or having to call the fire department,” said Judy Burr, who has worked for Salt Lake City for almost 19 years.
Burr is assigned to help kids get to Emerson Elementary, and spoke to KSL from a spot on 100 South and 1100 East.
“People like to drive down the street with my cone under their wheels. They’ll take it a half-mile away or all the way around the corner. They are not paying attention at all,” she said.
“Slow down, keep your eyes in your head, not on your phone,” she added.
At least two police agencies are planning crosswalk enforcement on Monday. The Provo Police department said they would be focusing on school zones. And the Unified Police Department said they would be at specific crosswalks near multiple schools in Kearns and Magna Townships, Taylorsville, Millcreek, Midvale, Holladay, and White Cities.
The Utah Department of Public Safety says you must slow down around school buses especially as children are racing to catch it. If that red stop sign arm is out, you cannot go around the bus.