Why not? Big Brother says No-No. In this WACH-TV article is the reason. There's this Federal thing called the "U.S. Department of Transportation's Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices".
The article says that Richland Two has been breaking the law. But is this Manual actually "law"? Or is a set of rules or guidelines that fall short of "law"?
What would happen if Richland Two said, "Ease of traffic movement around students and student safety are more important than some stupid Manual"?
Would Big Brother come crashing down on their heads and threaten to withhold Federal funds?
Most of the "crossing guards" were doing a pretty decent job. I don't recall hearing about any crashes in front of schools that were caused by the security officers.
I do remember one employee at Blythewood High School who was directing traffic on the roadway into the school, on school property. He didn't have a clue how to do it. That was the date Matt Sherman and I met.
Directing traffic looks easy, but it's not. You must be alert to all the drivers, because some will do stupid things and endanger pedestrians and other cars.
A one-day training would be sufficient for existing security staff who have been directing traffic. Approve them at 4:30PM, and put them back out on Monday. And then take care of the paperwork with the US DOT.
Where is Sen. Tim Scott when you need him?
