With school back in session, we want to remind everyone of the laws we have to keep children, adult pedestrians, and our school crossing guards safe.

Utah Law states the following:

41-6a-209 A person may not willfully fail or willfully refuse to comply with any lawful order or direction of a uniformed adult school crossing guard.

(1) 41-6a-1002 The operator (driver) of a vehicle shall yield the right-of-way by slowing down or stopping if necessary:
(i) to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within a crosswalk when the pedestrian is on the half of the roadway upon which the vehicle is traveling; or
(ii) when the pedestrian is approaching so closely from the opposite half of the roadway as to be in danger.

(2) The operator of a vehicle approaching a school crosswalk shall come to a complete stop at the school crosswalk if the crosswalk is occupied by a person.

(3) If a vehicle is stopped at a marked crosswalk or at any unmarked crosswalk at an intersection to permit a pedestrian to cross the roadway, the operator of any other vehicle approaching from the rear may not overtake and pass the stopped vehicle.

Please make sure if you live in or travel through an area with a school crossing that you give yourself adequate time in your commute to accommodate the school crossings. It is our job as a community to ensure the safety of our children and our wonderful crossing guards as they make their way to and from school each day.