Safety Sign Project - Be Safe While Crossing

  • The street sign designed by students from PS 277.
  • The students use construction paper to create their safety sign designs.
  • After learning about traffic safety, the entire class stands together for a photo with artist Frank Parga.

Project Description

Groundswell and the New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) designed the Traffic Safety Sign Residency Program to engage public school students in exploring traffic safety information through the creation of original street signs. Signs designed collaboratively by students at each of our partner schools are digitally rendered by Groundswell artists, fabricated by NYC DOT’s Sign Shop, and temporarily installed in local locations students identify as in need of traffic signage. Through this program, students learn how signs and symbols can work to communicate ideas and explore visual art techniques to develop graphic images. These signs then help increase safety awareness and prevent accidents in locations around each school community. With their design, PS 277 students asked both for no U-turns from drivers and for pedestrians to be safe while crossing the street.

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Project Info

Location: 2529 Gerritsen Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11229
Neighborhood: 
Gerritsen Beach


Program: 
Safety Sign Initiative


Theme: 
Livable Streets


Year: 
2012


Partner(s): 
New York City Department of Transportation
PS 277


Lead Artist(s):
Frank Parga


Participants: 

 

4th grade students at PS 277
Medium: 
Printed Metal Sign


Dimensions: 30" Diameter

Fun Facts

Suggested Activity
Think about areas in your neighborhood that may be in need of a traffic sign. Do people drive too fast near your school? Do people roll through stop signs by your house? Design a traffic safety sign that reflects traffic issues in your neighborhood.
Research
According to Transportation Alternatives, New York has the highest number of pedestrian and cyclist deaths and injuries in the U.S. Pedestrian and cyclist deaths make up a majority of traffic deaths.
Fun Fact
You should always wear a seatbelt when you are in the car and always wear a helmet when you are on a bike. It is also very important to “Stop, Look, and Listen,” when you are crossing the street, because others might not see you.