In our Sept. 3 issue, we told you about the new traffic signal that was installed along Mansfield Blvd., directly in front of Wiregrass Elementary, and that the signal was activated only a few days before the start of the school year.
Only a few months later, that signal has already gotten a safety upgrade, thanks in part to some ongoing inattentive motorists, although the upgrade actually had been planned from the beginning.
In Nov., a crew from Traffic Control Products of Florida was seen removing the overhead metal sign panels that said “No Right Turn On Red” and replacing them with electronic “No Right Turn” graphic signs that illuminate in all directions when pedestrians get the walk symbol (called an “exclusive pedestrian phase”), so that right-turning motorists stop and do not conflict with pedestrians in the crosswalk.
These electronic signs had already been installed facing the two heaviest right turn movements but now, all four approaches to the location have them. When the signal was first installed, loops of wire were coiled on the span so that crews could easily come back and replace the signs with electronic ones when needed.
It’s important that motorists pay attention to these overhead signs, as their primary purpose is to protect school children (and anyone else) using the crosswalks.
Even more important is that motorists MUST pay attention to and obey the commands of the crossing guards/traffic control officers (TCOs), as they are trained by the Pasco Sheriff’s Office and frequently control traffic independently of what the overhead signal shows.
Tasked With Keeping Your Kids Safe
For the newer signal location, this traffic control responsibility falls to TCO Bob Terracciano (top photo) — the guy with the green gloves and whistle, who’s normally directing traffic from the middle of the signalized intersection. “Some days it runs smoothly, other days are a mess,” Bob told the Neighborhood News while keeping a constant eye on the approaching traffic.
Bob has lived in the area for more than nine years, having moved from New York to Florida in January of 2016. He previously worked at a telephone company for 34 years, and found his current TCO job online, shortly after arriving here.
He says that in all of the years he’s been directing traffic at that intersection (he also says that he hopes to be there for at least nine more years), he’s never had an incident with any of the pedestrians, but not without a lot of effort sometimes by him and the other crossing guards.
Even though the signal has been in operation for months, Bob says there have been quite a few close calls and delayed starts caused by drivers who are staring up at the signal — or (more likely) down at their phones — even though Bob is waving them forward or telling them to stop using hand commands. If no commands are being given, then motorists must obey the traffic signal.
Back in November, a local resident reported that the driver of an SUV was either not paying attention, or intentionally drove straight through the intersection when they weren’t supposed to, which caught Bob by surprise, leading him to waive his arms and yell to get the driver’s attention, causing the motorist to stop in the middle of the intersection not knowing what to do. Bob ultimately waived the driver through, but says close calls like these are completely avoidable.
In general, Bob says he really likes the signal and that it’s been a huge improvement from the old 4-way stop: “Before the signal, I had to move and direct every single car from the stop signs.”
However, Bob said he’s not really a big fan of the new electronic signs and prefers the metal ones, because he believes that when the electronic signs turn off and on, it may distract or confuse motorists from what he is directing them to do.
Bob says the number one thing he asks of every driver is to “stay off your phone,” while driving through any school zone, which starts on Mansfield just south of the gate for the Wrencrest subdivision of Meadow Pointe. “When they get a big traffic ticket [over $400] they tend to not do it again.” He just wishes the Pasco Sheriff’s Office was able to patrol the school zone more often, as he feels that’s the biggest deterrent to poor driver behavior but, he says, Pasco doesn’t alway have the resources to do so.
This sentiment is shared by the TCO down at the Wrencrest gate, who the students refer to as Mr. Thomas, who has been at that intersection for seven years and has never missed a single day, “or even a single second,” he says.
Mr. Thomas also says that before he was a crossing guard, he worked for the California Highway Patrol for 30 years. He says that, at first, he was a little apprehensive about the signal down the street, but feels it has worked out well. The number one thing he asks of drivers is to please slow down whenever you are driving through any school zone. Mr. Thomas also says that he’s also never seen an accident with any pedestrians at his intersection, but you can tell that both Bob and Mr. Thomas fully intend to keep it that way.
Both crossing guards also say they help cross the students from the adjacent John Long Middle School, even though they are not required to (as they are there for the elementary school students), but they do it as a joint effort, since the bell times for Long and Wiregrass Elementary are so close together. Bob notes that if the bell times change next school year, middle school kids may not have him or Mr. Thomas available to help them cross.
But please, pay extra attention anytime the school zones are active.
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