New drive to keep children safe on the school run

A campaign has been launched to keep children safe by reminding drivers they have to stop for school crossing patrols.

The drive was launched last week at St Luke’s Primary School in Heywood.

As well as getting across the Stop Means Stop message, parking wardens will be on patrol outside schools to enforce restrictions.

Rochdale Council shared: “We know that life is busy and we all need to get to places fast, but now the kids are back in school, it’s more important than ever that we take it slow and leave space around schools.

“There were 137 fail to stops outside schools over the past five years, with people driving straight through, even after our school crossing patrols had stepped into the road.

Cllr Dylan Williams launches the Stop Means Stop campaign at St Luke’s Primary School in Heywood. Image: Rochdale Council

“People also continue to park on lines outside schools, significantly reducing visibility and increasing the likelihood that a child could get hurt.

“Cllr Dylan Williams, our cabinet member for Highways and Facilities launched the Stop Means Stop campaign for our borough at St Luke’s in Heywood and also announced parking enforcement patrols are being massively increased around schools to help combat the issue.

Cllr Williams said: “There have been multiple cases across the borough and across Greater Manchester with cars not stopping for the lollipop people.

“This is obviously a real danger for schoolchildren across the borough. It’s really important that people stop.

“Please do not park on yellow lines and school keep clear lines in front of schools.

“We’re massively stepping up parking enforcement across the borough to do with this, and that’ll be random as well, so you won’t know when it’s going to happen.”

St Luke’s crossing patrol Chris said: “When they’re parking on the zigzag lines, it’s obviously blocking my view and what the drivers can see going past and that’s obviously putting the children in danger, so for them to be aware of why the restrictions are there, and the speed limit is really important.”

Dad Dave, who was bringing his son, Jack, to school, said: “There’s hundreds of kids at drop off and pickup coming out at one time.

Dave and his son, Jack, outside St Luke’s Primary in Heywood. Image: Rochdale Council

“You need to be able see. It’s a fairly busy road, so you want to be able to try and get across safely.

“So it’s important that there is that open space, and we understand some people will need to get as close to school as possible, but I think most of us, we can park a bit further away, walk that extra bit of distance, just to keep it free outside the school and keep everybody safe.”

Jonathan Jones feels tougher punishments are needed to deter drivers.

He shared on the council’s Facebook page: “How about an instant fine for any parent dropping or picking kids up even if its stopping traffic for 10seconds?

“If you’re going implement a Stop Means Stop, then a permanent traffic warden needs to be there as we now have double deckers using that route. Nobody will pay attention because its become a nightmare.”

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