About This Career

Guides or controls vehicular or pedestrian traffic at such places as streets, schools, railroad crossings, or construction sites.

This career is part of the Law, Public Safety, Corrections and Security cluster Security and Protective Services pathway.

A person in this career:

• Directs or escorts pedestrians across streets, stopping traffic, as necessary.
• Guides or controls vehicular or pedestrian traffic at such places as street and railroad crossings and construction sites.
• Monitors traffic flow to locate safe gaps through which pedestrians can cross streets.
• Communicates traffic and crossing rules and other information to students and adults.
• Directs traffic movement or warns of hazards, using signs, flags, lanterns, and hand signals.
• Reports unsafe behavior of children to school officials.
• Records license numbers of vehicles disregarding traffic signals, and reports infractions to appropriate authorities.
• Distributes traffic control signs and markers at designated points.
• Stops speeding vehicles to warn drivers of traffic laws.
• Learns the location and purpose of street traffic signs within assigned patrol areas.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

People who do this job report that:

• You would often handle loads up to 10 lbs., sometimes up to 20 lbs. You might do a lot of walking or standing, or you might sit but use your arms and legs to control machines, equipment or tools.
• Work in this occupation involves use of protective items such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, a hard hat, or personal flotation devices
• Exposure to pollutants, gases, dust, fumes, odors, poor ventilation, etc.
• Conditions are very hot (above 90 F) or very cold (under 32 F)
• Work in this occupation involves using your hands to hold, control, and feel objects more than one-third of the time
• Sound and noise levels are loud and distracting
• Work in this occupation requires being outside most of the time
• Work in this occupation involves making repetitive motions more than one-third of the time
• Work in this occupation involves standing more than one-third of the time
• Work in this occupation involves walking or running more than one-third of the time

Working in this career involves (physical activities):

• Seeing clearly at a distance
• Speaking clearly enough to be able to be understood by others
• Identifying and understanding the speech of another person

Work Hours and Travel

• Irregular hours