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{lfgéharges don’t shock crossing guard ‘ “It has fingering consequences, but it should have immediate consequences. Peo- ple get into cars now and feel that sense of Immunity." The dumber of driving infractions near schools is too high for York police traffic bureau Sgt. Ed Villamere, who said many of the drivers stopped by police live nearby. With severél omoets'out for trafic enforce- ment d the early weeks of school, the number of es is bound to increase, he The same York police updates indicate more than 8,300 drivers'have been charged with speeding, mostly in school zones or near schools, during the past three years of Opera- tion ABC. “Every one of those speeding tickets is a potential fatality? Mr. Pattei’son saidi The results bf this years Operation ABC were not aVailable at press time. Diane Wallenwein stood look- ing across a half-dozen lanes of traf- fic as children made their way back to school. From her spot on the northwest corner of Robinson Street and Hwy. 7 in Markham, Ms Wallenwein, a crossing guard for four years, kept an eye on the traffic as it flowed past St. Patrick Catholic School. “This morning is fighter than normal,” Ms Wallenwein, clad in a fluorescent vest, noted before stepping out and raising her red stop sign up to the eye level of dozens of drivers. Promnpl. Ms Wallenwein, who grewup in Markham, said she believes a lot of the motorists who drive past St. Patrick. an area posted at 50 km/ h and marked with fluorescent and com- munity safety zone signs, are on their way to work and don’t have sons or daughters attending the school. “I've fiad to pull a few kids back because (drivers) have not stopped; they've gone through the red,” she said. “I almost get hit once a day.” She wasn’t fazed when told of the 19 peo- ple charged acrossYork with failing to stop for a school bus with its lights flashing. “Is that all?" she asked. She said she was also not surprised by the number of people charged with speeding during back-to-school enforcement, noting she often sees York police stopping motorists just east of the school. ‘IS FIVE MINUTES WORTH "7' A crossing ‘guard for years, Ms Archibald, also clad in a reflective vest and holding a stop sign, said she often notices motorists roll through stop signs at the inter- section, which isjust steps from both Regen- cy Acres Public School and St. Joseph Catholic School. The area is marked with fluorescent school zone signs. A similar scene plays out in Aurora. Barbara Archibald cheerftu called out greetings to yo people and parents cross- ing at Glass drives She wasn’tvsmjprised by the number of people caught speeding and ignoring school bus lights. She blames drivers: . Check our website for all the details and registration options.