WASHINGTON (AP) — Across the country, school crossing guards provide a critical service protecting children on their way to and from school. Many of them say they find this job rewarding. but investigation According to the Associated Press and Cox Media Group Television Station, that indicates it could be dangerous.
Here are key takeaways from the AP and Cox Media Group survey:
– There is no systematic way to track how many railroad crossing guards are injured or killed each year.
Over the past decade, at least 230 school crossing guards in 37 states and Washington, D.C., have been hit by vehicles while on duty, according to a database compiled by The Associated Press and Cox Media Group. Nearly 30 people died. This data was compiled from incident and accident reports requested from approximately 200 police departments, and is believed to represent only a fraction of the number of security personnel injured or killed nationwide.
— Drivers rarely face criminal charges even if they hit a railroad crossing guard and die.
Of the 183 incidents involving crosswalk guards that could result in police consequences, almost half resulted in traffic violations such as “failure to yield to a pedestrian.” About a quarter of the drivers were not ticketed, but a quarter faced criminal charges from police. Police said each incident must be considered individually and not all accidents merit prosecution.
— Railroad crossing security is one of the most dangerous jobs, according to federal data analyzed by The Associated Press.
Get the latest news from AP.
continue
The Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes data on on-the-job injuries and fatalities for most industries, but the Bureau does not publish fatality rates for school crossing guards, who are included in the same occupation as road construction alerters. The Associated Press calculated independent mortality rates for about 200 occupations with at least 10,000 workers and 10 deaths in 2023, the most recent year for available labor records. The AP analysis found that railroad crossing guards and sign installers were in the top five for on-the-job fatalities, on par with power line installers and air transportation workers.
— New Jersey and Massachusetts are the only two states that are serious about tracking the safety of railroad crossing guards.
Both states announced the measures after several security guards were killed by motorists. New Jersey officials said they conduct regular safety inspections of school districts and have notified employers of eight serious violations and 30 others. In 2022, Massachusetts will require cities and towns to report injuries to railroad crossing guards.
-While distracted drivers and speeding are the main causes of injuries and deaths caused by railroad crossing guards, experts say there are other problems as well.
Modern SUVs and trucks have high hoods, creating large blind spots and making it difficult for drivers to see railroad crossing guards. Many school districts lack adequate traffic calming measures, such as speed bumps and automated enforcement cameras. Road design often prioritizes vehicular flow over pedestrian safety, with poor sight lines and insufficient buffer zones around crosswalks.
—Many railroad crossing guards are elderly or retired.
Of the 160 school crossing guards whose ages The Associated Press and Cox Media Group were able to record, more than half were 65 or older.
___
This story is a collaboration between The Associated Press and Cox Media Group local television stations. This is part of the AP Local Investigative Reporting Program. The program provides AP members with workshops, reporting tools, and collaborations with AP journalists who help them apply investigative techniques.
Dasia Garner is the 2025 Ida B. Wells Institute Investigative Reporting Intern. Gary Fields and River Zhang contributed reporting.
Cox Media Group television contributors contributed to this article: Jody Fleischer, Josh Wade, Ted Daniel, WFXT Boston, Tina Terry, Michael Pratz, WSOC Charlotte, Michelle Newell, Mitchell Lierman, WSB-TV Atlanta, John Bedell, WHIO-TV Dayton, Shannon Butler, WFTV Orlando, Deja Mayfield, WJAX/WFOX Jacksonville, Brooke Gardner, KIRO Seattle, Amy Hudak, Alex Popichak, WPXI Pittsburgh.
