Crossing guard says drivers continue to flout law

NORTH CANAAN — Town officials have begun addressing traffic problems in and near North Canaan Elementary School grounds.Among the issues is a significant number of drivers going the wrong way during arrival and dismissal times, when Pease Street is designated as a one-way street.A messy situation has long existed there that combines a difficult intersection and crosswalk with drivers (including parents and school staff) who seem unwilling or unable to follow the designated protocols. The potential hazards were called to the board’s attention when crossing guard Don Caranci was moved to the corner. He’d been assigned to a different corner, in the center of town, but was moved closer to the school when that crosswalk was “eliminated.” He has pointed out the problems and pushed for a solution.North Canaan Principal Rosemary Keilty reported to the school board May 12 that traffic issues are being addressed with new signage purchased by the town, including school zone and one-way signs.The selectmen rejected a recommendation by the school board’s transportation committee for an engineering study to determine if there is a better approach there, such as making the one-way designation full time.“The Board of Selectmen is not going to spend the money on an engineering study,” Keilty said. “But they are going to look at other options, such as lighting. The board and the resident trooper agreed that the crossing guard hours there should advance by 15 minutes. But since there is so little of the school year left, that probably won’t start until the fall.”Meanwhile, Caranci said an effort by the school and media toward awareness of the dangerous things drivers and pedestrians do has had an uneven effect. Resident State Trooper Jim Promotico has monitored the situation several times.When the trooper is there, Caranci said, the situation improves considerably. When he’s not, things return to chaos. He added that it has become clear to him that it’s not about people being unaware of the rules. For instance, wrong-way drivers turned around by the trooper one day have been coming back the next day to commit the same offense.He also said that some teachers and school staff continue to create their own parking spaces in traffic lanes in the Town Hall parking lot; drivers continue to ignore stop signs and the speed limit; and pedestrians continue to jaywalk.