The City of Garland makes the safety of children a priority.
KidWatch Program
This program promotes child safety through education and awareness and is sponsored by the City of Garland Transportation, Police, and Fire Departments.
It is administered by the Transportation Department and is operated through any neighborhood group. Special children's meetings are presented by the Police, Fire, and Transportation Departments to train children to think and play safe.
KidWatch . . . educates children and adults about child safety at school and in your neighborhood and provides visible reminders that Garland "watches out" for its kids.
How it Works . . . KidWatch programs will be scheduled for any interested group. Participating groups may earn KidWatch signs for their neighborhood by participating in child safety seminars. Neighborhood signs will generally be posted on major streets entering the neighborhood.
How to Join . . . Contact the City of Garland Transportation Department at 972-205-2430.
KidWatch Programs (8 kids minimum) . . .
Stranger Danger
Vandalism Prevention
Bicycle Theft Protection
Seat Belt/Car Seat Safety
Emergency Telephone Use
Meet the Officer
Child ID
School Zone Safety
Neighborhood Traffic Control Program
School Routes and Crossing Guards
Fire Safety
School Speed Zones
This program involves both pedestrians of all ages and drivers. Walking and driving safely is extremely important, especially around our schools. The Transportation Department establishes school zones by the use of signs and/or flashing amber lights to alert drivers to observe a speed limit of 20 miles per hour in these areas to aid pedestrians in crossing the streets. This is strictly enforced - speeding in a school zone has a minimum fine of $164.00 plus $5.00 for each mile exceeding the speed limit.
Adult School Crossing Guards
The City of Garland provides Adult School Crossing Guards to assist the children in crossing the streets on the trips to and from school. Currently, Garland has 79 manned locations and these guards cross over 4,000 children each day between the hours of 7:10 a.m. and 8:10 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. The hours may be varied slightly to accommodate specific location needs.
What Can I Do To Help?
Adults can assist in keeping our kids safe each day by obeying the laws concerning the school zones. In our busy lives sometimes we all forget how hazardous our vehicles can be to these youngsters. You can help by remembering these simple guidelines:
Stay Alert - Watch for small children. Children under the age of eight believe that if they can see you, then you can see them so they often dart out from behind a parked car.
Slow Down - Obey the 20 mile per hour MAXIMUM speed limit in school zones and the 30 mile per hour MAXIMUM speed limit on residential streets.
Do Not Stop or Park on a Crosswalk - This is against the law. All vehicles must stop behind the painted white stop bar or crosswalk line.
Be Patient - Proceed into the crosswalk or intersection ONLY after ALL pedestrians are all clear of the crosswalk and the intersection can be completely crossed.
Obey the Crossing Guards - They are there to protect the children but can only do so with your cooperation. It is a violation of State Law to "willfully fail or refuse to comply with any lawful order or direction to stop and yield to pedestrians given by any School Crossing Guard while in performance of his duties in a designated school-crossing zone".
If you have any questions or concerns regarding child or school safety, please call our Transportation Engineering Assistant at 972-205-2438.