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Residents and students raise pedestrian-safety concerns over phone use near Pompton Lakes schools
Summary
During public comment at the April 2 Pompton Lakes council meeting, residents and students urged the borough and schools to address students walking in roadways while using phones and recommended education, crossing-guard enforcement and peer outreach.
Residents and student commenters urged Pompton Lakes officials April 2 to take steps to reduce pedestrian risk for students who cross streets while using cell phones.
Michael Sura, a resident who gave an address listed in the meeting record, told the council he was worried about children stepping into streets while looking at phones. "They're on their phones and crossing the street anywhere ... it's almost gonna be killed," he said during the public-comment period. His remarks prompted other speakers to suggest education and operational responses.
A council member (unnamed in the transcript) recommended school-based measures such as posters, classroom presentations and asking crossing guards to remind students to put down phones while crossing. A student speaker added a peer-to-peer approach: "We are also students. So as peers, we could also do our part ... and inform the students directly to tell them, hey. Get off your phones," the speaker said.
Council members did not take a formal vote or issue a directive during the public-comment segment; suggestions were discussed as potential next steps. The council later approved related consent items addressing school-area congestion by adjusting garbage pickup routes to avoid main roads during school drop-off and pickup times.
