They are the friendly neighborhood cops - manning school zones to ensure that your child gets home safe.

A group of these special policemen and traffic assistants were honored at a ceremony yesterday for their contribution to children's safety.

Eight policemen and 10 traffic assistants were declared winners of the "My Favorite Crossing Guard" competition launched by Safe Kids China, a non-governmental charity organization, and logistics company FedEx.

All the candidates were nominated by students of 98 primary and middle schools and selected by a panel of judges and online voting.

The practice of designating special police officers and traffic assistants at school gates in the mornings and afternoons to regulate traffic and protect children from accidents has been widely hailed by parents and teachers since its launch in 2002.

Local police officers estimate that the "crossing guards" have helped reduce accidents involving children near schools by 30 percent.

"More than 35,000 children are injured in road accidents every year in China. Four out of 10 children injured in these accidents are hurt while crossing roads," said Monica Cui, executive director of Safe Kids China. "Violations of traffic regulations while crossing roads is the main cause of juvenile accidents.

"Primary investigation shows there were 300 accidents involving young pedestrians in Shanghai in 2000. The figure has dropped to an average 200 since patrolling began in 2002."

(Shanghai Daily September 24, 2008)