When a parent sends a child to school in the morning, they expect the child to return home at the end of the day unharmed. Unfortunately, busy intersections and disobedient drivers make the journey to and from school dangerous for students. According to the Transportation Research Board, more than 100 children are killed every year while walking to and from school, and about 25,000 are injured.

While school crossing guards are hired to assist children in crossing roads on their way to or from school, drivers do not always follow the directions given to them by a crossing guard. As such, the position of school crossing guard has become a dangerous occupation in local government. We can help this situation by creating a statutory requirement for drivers to obey school crossing guards.

I am introducing legislation that will require drivers to obey all traffic commands given to them by a school crossing guard. We must protect those individuals who protect our children, and requiring obedience to school crossing guards is one important step that we can take to ensure the safety of our children and the individuals who accept the responsibility of protecting them.

I ask that you please join me in sponsoring this vital piece of legislation that will help ensure the safety of our children and those who protect them.