Vulnerable Road Users > School Patrols
The School Safety Patrol program in Manitoba is spearheaded by the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA). CAA Manitoba helps organize the program and, with the contributions of other program partners, provides all materials - flags, vests, booklets and more - at no cost to participating schools.
- Manitoba Public Insurance makes a key contribution to the program by helping purchase high-visibility safety vests for the youngsters and by producing the School Safety Patrol Handbook.
- The Manitoba Association of School Trustees (MAST) also lends its support by distributing the flags and vests.
- In Winnipeg, the Winnipeg Police Services School Resource Unit trains each school's patrol supervisors (usually teachers), patrol captains, and patrollers. Outside of Winnipeg, the sponsoring community group or law enforcement agency provides the training.
If there isn't a school safety patrol program at your local school, give CAA Manitoba’s School Patrol co-ordinator a call at 262-6037.
Rules for School Safety Patrol Members
- Report promptly for duty at the times set out by your supervisors.
- Stay on duty until the school bell rings, or until the patrol captain gives you the signal to leave.
- If you can’t go on duty, tell your captain in advance. That way, a spare patrol member will be on post while you are away. Also always set a good example for other students by wearing your vests properly and reporting for duty in an orderly manner. You must also keep your flags, vests and raincoats clean and in good repair.
- School patrol supervisors must always keep up-to-date records of all their patrol members including spares. They must make sure that all patrol members are very well trained in all aspects of school patrol safety procedures. They must follow these procedures at all times in performing their duties. Besides, they must keep a record of how well each patrol member performs his or her duties and this must be done in a fair and impartial manner.
- The records must be kept in a place where a police officer can easily review them.
- If you’re on patrol in a traffic corridor where there are many lanes of traffic, make sure all lanes of traffic have stopped before you let the children cross.
- Running, pushing, shoving or fighting at crossings is dangerous, report children that are causing problems to your patrol supervisors or to the principal.
When helping students to cross after getting off a school bus, the patrol must observe these rules: - Line up the children off the street or highway at least 10 steps (five metres) in front of the bus.
- Take a position 10 steps (five metres) in front of the bus and in line with the driver’s side front bender.
- Look in all directions for traffic while holding both of your arms out at a 45-degree angle to keep the children back.
- When you’re sure the traffic in all directions has stopped, check with the driver for the “all clear” signal.
- Extend one arm in the direction the children will travel.
- Motion the children across the road or highway with your other arm.
