Safety Sign Project - Use the Crosswalk!

  • This sign shows PS 39 students practicing safe street crossing. They use an intersection with a crosswalk and a stop sign, and they raise their hands to make sure the moving vehicle notices them.

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. Fourth graders from PS 39 identified jay-walking as a traffic safety challenge in their area and developed a sign to address this concern. Their design reminds their classmates to use the crosswalk and to make sure oncoming traffic can see them. 

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Project Info

Location: 71 Sand Lane Staten Island, NY 10305
Neighborhood: 
North Shore


Program: 
Safety Sign Initiative


Theme: 
Livable Streets


Year: 
2013


Partner(s): 
PS 39
New York City Department of Transportation


Lead Artist(s):
Yana Dimitrova


Participants: 

 

4th grade students at PS 39
Medium: 
Printed Metal Sign


Dimensions: 30" Diameter

Fun Facts

Fun Fact
Research shows that chartreus (a green-yellow color seen in this sign) is the most noticeable color to the human eye. Yellows and greens are often used in traffic signage because these colors get people's attention easily.
Fun Fact
In 2012, NYC DOT launched the "Look! Safety Campaign" and installed messages spelling "Look" with eyes drawn in the O's. If you come across one of these 110 installments, you will notice that the "eyes" look towards oncoming traffic.
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.