A hand-held crosswalk flag pilot program at a West Vancouver elementary school is getting high marks.
The pilot site is located at a busy crosswalk near West Bay elementary at Mathers Avenue and Thompson Crescent.
Here's how it works: bright yellow flags, flag holders and signs are placed on either side of the crosswalk and when users cross they take a flag from the holder, raise it, wait for traffic to stop and cross with the flag held up.
Once they've safely crossed, they put the flag in a holder on the other side of the street.
"The kids are using them now and they love them," said principal Judy Duncan. "What they are doing is waving their flags to make sure the driver stops. So it is way more effective."
Traffic congestion had become a problem around the school, particularly at crosswalks where some motorists failed to stop even when kids had started walking across the street.
"So there was a need to address the safety," said Duncan.
The program is a joint initiative of the District of West Vancouver, West Vancouver police, West Bay school administration and parent volunteers, who have been involved in a number of initiatives to improve safety for those walking to school.
Along with improving the visibility and safety for those crossing the street, the crosswalk flags will also be used by a new parent-run crossing guard program at three crossings near the school.
The district will consider adding more hand-held flag crossings throughout the municipality based on results from this pilot program.
