Student Pedestrian Safety

ZANESVILLE, Ohio – Approximately one third of Zanesville City School students walk to school.

Zanesville Middle School Principal Adrian Williams said that two students have been struck by motorists while walking to school during the first quarter of this school year. 

“A lot of our students walk to school. We have neighborhoods that are very close by, almost to all of our schools. In the mornings when our students are coming to school, it’s always dark. So it is hard for motorists to see, I understand that. And at the same time for students, they don’t stand out, right? They’re not wearing bright yellow or bright green or anything like that. So it’s… it is kind of hard to see them,” Williams said.

Both the middle school and high school are situated next to each other and have separate cross walks across Blue Avenue. The cross walks feature a button that activates flashing lights to alert motorists. One student was struck crossing Blue Avenue and another was struck in a cross walk on Maple Avenue.

“So going to the hospital to start my day and to start that student’s day, it’s nothing that any educator ever wants,” Williams said. “That’s the scariest phone call for a parent to get is: ‘I’m sorry your student was hit on the way to school this morning.’ If anybody is interested in wanting to volunteer and help out at our school, please contact me. There is a volunteer application and volunteer process. But we would be thrilled to have people that would love to volunteer to help us with our cross walk area.”

Williams noted that an assistant principal helps with the afternoon crossings but students generally arrive between 6:45 and 7:15 each morning without any cross walk supervision.

awilliams@zanesville.k12.oh.us