WEST LAFAYETTE – Purdue University officials are planning to hire stop sign-carrying crossing guards as part of an effort to improve the safety for students on busy streets around the campus.

The school has added warning signs and bright paint in the past year at numerous crosswalks, although six pedestrians or bicyclists have been hurt in collisions with vehicles near campus in the past week.

Campus police Chief John Cox said the new crossing guards will be part-time police department employees. He said they won’t force pedestrians to wait at the side of streets but will go out with their stop signs when there large groups are crossing.

Purdue Student Government Vice President Jamie Steiner said too often pedestrians and drivers are using cell phones or disregarding crosswalks.