The System activates only when a pedestrian wants to cross. The system has been installed in the school zones on Ventura Road at Clara Street, Pleasant Valley Road at Florence, and Bard Road at Sixth Street.

The typical reaction of most drivers, upon seeing the activated in-roadway flashing LED lights, is to let off the accelerator, slowing or braking as they approach the crosswalk. This creates a heightened state of driver awareness for the approaching motorist to come to a safe stop for a pedestrian or pass safely through the crosswalk without impeding the traffic flow. The flashing lights automatically shut off after about 15-20 seconds.

Proper Action Required by Pedestrians and Drivers
Pedestrians and drivers are to follow the standard safety rules and laws for pedestrians crossing at crosswalks.

The pedestrian is to follow standard crossing rules when using the crosswalk. The pedestrian is to stop, look, and start crossing only after they know that approaching drivers can see them and are stopping. The pedestrian is not to assume that the activated crosswalk device is a requirement for motorists to stop.

The driver, when approaching the crosswalk, is to slow their vehicle speed and look for pedestrian activity in the crosswalk. If there is a pedestrian either waiting at the crosswalk’s entrance to cross or crossing in the crosswalk, the driver is to yield and allow the pedestrian to cross before proceeding.

If there are no pedestrians present, the driver may proceed without stopping.

Summer is over and school is now in full session. That means all drivers must now be aware of children walking to and from school. To help us in making sure they make it to school, we depend on Crossing Guards to safely escort our children across certain intersections of the city. The City's Crossing Guards are employed at certain locations and hours of the day when schools are in session. They wear orange color vests, with the words "Crossing Guard" emblazoned on the front and back, and carry handheld "STOP" signs. The stop signs are in force whenever a Crossing Guard holds the sign above their head and starts crossing into the street. At that time, all traffic must come to a complete stop for the direction the sign is facing. Traffic must remain stopped until the crossing guard returns to their posted corner, or completely lowers the stop sign.

Failure to comply with a crossing guard may result in the driver being stopped by a police officer, being issued a traffic citation, and paying a heavy fine. Remember, crossing guards are there to protect all of our children, and we all have a civic duty to drive reasonably and cautiously whenever we drive into and through a school zone.

The City of Port Hueneme has five crossing guards and they are posted at the following locations: (Refer to the Red circles on the map)

PARKVIEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

BARD ELEMENATRY SCHOOL

HUENEME ELEMENATRY SCHOOL

If you have any questions regarding rules of the road and your responsibility when driving through a school zone or obeying the directions of a crossing guard while crossing children in marked/designated crosswalk, please contact Senior Officer Ron Burns at (805) 986-6612 or via email - RBurns@ci.port-hueneme.ca.us