Rising Risks for School Crossing Guards: A Growing Safety Concern in New Jersey Work Zones
In recent years, a job once seen as safe, simple, and community-focused has turned into one of the most dangerous roles in local government. School crossing guards, often retirees working part-time to help children safely reach school, are facing increasing risks on busy roads across New Jersey. Over the last three years alone, at least three crossing guards have lost their lives while performing their duties, raising serious concerns about road safety in school zones.
One of the most recent tragedies involved 74-year-old Bruce Morlack, a retired man who served as a school crossing guard in Burlington City. Every morning, he stood at a marked crosswalk near Jacksonville Road and James Street, guiding students across a busy two-lane road with a posted speed limit of 45 miles per hour. Known in his community for his friendly nature, Morlack often spent time interacting with students and residents while waiting for school traffic.
On the morning of the incident in December 2024, Morlack was performing his usual duty when two students began crossing the road. Surveillance footage later showed that he acted quickly to prevent the children from stepping into the path of oncoming traffic. While he successfully pushed them to safety, a vehicle struck him moments later, resulting in severe injuries. He was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he later died.
His family described him as a dedicated and joyful person who took pride in his role. Despite his efforts to protect others, his life was cut short in a situation that many now describe as preventable.
Morlack’s death is not an isolated case. Data from state labor and health departments shows that since the early 1990s, nearly 20 crossing guards in New Jersey have died due to traffic-related incidents while on duty. In the last three years alone, three guards have been killed, while several others have suffered injuries in similar situations.
Just weeks before Morlack’s incident, another crossing guard, a 79-year-old retired veteran, was fatally injured near an elementary school in High Bridge. In a separate case in 2025, a guard was injured near the same Burlington City roadway where Morlack was later killed. More recently, another fatal crash in Woodland Park claimed the life of an 80-year-old crossing guard and injured two students.
Experts and safety researchers say the role of crossing guards has become increasingly difficult due to heavier traffic, distracted driving, and the growing size of modern vehicles, which often limit driver visibility. Many guards are older adults who depend on this work for extra income or daily activity after retirement, making the risks even more concerning.
Reports based on interviews with crossing guards across the state highlight frequent challenges, including speeding vehicles, failure to obey traffic signals, and verbal abuse from drivers. Many guards say they often feel unsafe while standing in the roadway, even in marked school zones.
Local officials and transportation safety experts have acknowledged the seriousness of the issue. Authorities have pointed out that while most drivers do follow traffic rules near school crossings, a small number of violations can lead to devastating consequences. Discussions are ongoing in several communities about improving safety measures, including better signage, increased enforcement, and possible road redesigns around school zones.
Advocacy groups focused on road safety argue that these incidents reflect a broader system failure. They emphasize that relying solely on crossing guards to manage traffic safety is not enough and that stronger infrastructure changes and enforcement measures are needed to protect both workers and students.
State labor officials have also expressed concern, noting that every workplace fatality represents a failure in safety systems. Training programs, inspections, and awareness campaigns have been expanded in recent years, but incidents continue to occur.
The emotional impact on families has been significant. In the case of Bruce Morlack, his daughter has become an advocate for safer roads, questioning why some drivers involved in fatal crashes receive only minor penalties. She believes that greater accountability and awareness are necessary to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
Today, the location where Morlack once worked has changed. The crosswalk has been removed, and a warning sign now discourages pedestrians from crossing at that point. Despite these changes, residents say traffic behavior in the area has not fully improved, and concerns about speeding remain.
The growing number of incidents involving crossing guards highlights a pressing public safety issue that extends beyond one state. National data shows that hundreds of crossing guards across the United States have been struck by vehicles in the past decade, with several fatalities reported. However, experts note that there is no consistent nationwide system to track these incidents, making it difficult to measure the full scale of the problem.
As communities continue to rely on crossing guards to protect schoolchildren, the recent tragedies have sparked renewed debate on how to make roads safer for those who stand at the front line of traffic control every day.
Sources
State of New Jersey Department of Health
New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development
Rutgers University Transportation and Safety Research Reports
Local law enforcement and municipal safety records
