In our Sept. 3 situation, we instructed you concerning the new site visitors sign that was put in alongside Mansfield Blvd., immediately in entrance of Wiregrass Elementary, and that the sign was activated only some days earlier than the beginning of the varsity 12 months.
Just a few months later, that sign has already gotten a security improve, thanks partially to some ongoing inattentive motorists, though the improve truly had been deliberate from the start.
In Nov., a crew from Visitors Management Merchandise of Florida was seen eradicating the overhead steel signal panels that mentioned “No Proper Flip On Pink” and changing them with digital “No Proper Flip” graphic indicators that illuminate in all instructions when pedestrians get the stroll image (referred to as an “unique pedestrian part”), in order that right-turning motorists cease and don’t battle with pedestrians within the crosswalk.
These digital indicators had already been put in dealing with the 2 heaviest proper flip actions however now, all 4 approaches to the placement have them. When the sign was first put in, loops of wire had been coiled on the span in order that crews might simply come again and substitute the indicators with digital ones when wanted.
It’s necessary that motorists take note of these overhead indicators, as their major goal is to guard faculty youngsters (and anybody else) utilizing the crosswalks.
Much more necessary is that motorists MUST take note of and obey the instructions of the crossing guards/site visitors management officers (TCOs), as they’re educated by the Pasco Sheriff’s Workplace and incessantly management site visitors independently of what the overhead sign reveals.
Tasked With Retaining Your Youngsters Secure
For the newer sign location, this site visitors management accountability falls to TCO Bob Terracciano (high picture) — the man with the inexperienced gloves and whistle, who’s usually directing site visitors from the center of the signalized intersection. “Some days it runs easily, different days are a multitude,” Bob instructed the Neighborhood Information whereas conserving a relentless eye on the approaching site visitors.
Bob has lived within the space for greater than 9 years, having moved from New York to Florida in January of 2016. He beforehand labored at a phone firm for 34 years, and located his present TCO job on-line, shortly after arriving right here.
He says that in all the years he’s been directing site visitors at that intersection (he additionally says that he hopes to be there for no less than 9 extra years), he’s by no means had an incident with any of the pedestrians, however not with out a whole lot of effort typically by him and the opposite crossing guards.
Regardless that the sign has been in operation for months, Bob says there have been fairly a number of shut calls and delayed begins brought on by drivers who’re staring up on the sign — or (extra possible) down at their telephones — though Bob is waving them ahead or telling them to cease utilizing hand instructions. If no instructions are being given, then motorists should obey the site visitors sign.
Again in November, a neighborhood resident reported that the motive force of an SUV was both not paying consideration, or deliberately drove straight by means of the intersection once they weren’t presupposed to, which caught Bob abruptly, main him to waive his arms and yell to get the motive force’s consideration, inflicting the motorist to cease in the midst of the intersection not understanding what to do. Bob finally waived the motive force by means of, however says shut calls like these are fully avoidable.
Basically, Bob says he actually likes the sign and that it’s been an enormous enchancment from the outdated 4-way cease: “Earlier than the sign, I needed to transfer and direct each single automobile from the cease indicators.”
Nonetheless, Bob mentioned he’s probably not an enormous fan of the brand new digital indicators and prefers the steel ones, as a result of he believes that when the digital indicators flip on and off, it could distract or confuse motorists from what he’s directing them to do.
Bob says the primary factor he asks of each driver is to “keep off your telephone,” whereas driving by means of any faculty zone, which begins on Mansfield simply south of the gate for the Wrencrest subdivision of Meadow Pointe. “Once they get an enormous site visitors ticket [over $400] they have an inclination to not do it once more.” He simply needs the Pasco Sheriff’s Workplace was in a position to patrol the varsity zone extra typically, as he feels that’s the largest deterrent to poor driver habits however, he says, Pasco doesn’t alway have the assets to take action.
This sentiment is shared by the TCO down on the Wrencrest gate, who the scholars check with as Mr. Thomas, who has been at that intersection for seven years and has by no means missed a single day, “or perhaps a single second,” he says.
Mr. Thomas additionally says that earlier than he was a crossing guard, he labored for the California Freeway Patrol for 30 years. He says that, at first, he was a little bit apprehensive concerning the sign down the road, however feels it has labored out nicely. The primary factor he asks of drivers is to please decelerate at any time when you might be driving by means of any faculty zone. Mr. Thomas additionally says that he’s additionally by no means seen an accident with any pedestrians at his intersection, however you may inform that each Bob and Mr. Thomas absolutely intend to maintain it that manner.
Each crossing guards additionally say they assist cross the scholars from the adjoining John Lengthy Center College, though they don’t seem to be required to (as they’re there for the elementary faculty college students), however they do it as a joint effort, because the bell occasions for Lengthy and Wiregrass Elementary are so shut collectively. Bob notes that if the bell occasions change subsequent faculty 12 months, center faculty youngsters might not have him or Mr. Thomas out there to assist them cross.
However please, pay additional consideration anytime the varsity zones are lively.
