BAD SCHOOL PARKING DELAYED MEDICS
CREW HAD TO RUN TO BOY’S AID
PARAMEDICS were delayed getting to a child who had a severe asthma attack after a driver blocked school gates by parking on zigzag lines.
The medics had to leave their ambulance in the street and run in to treat the youngster at Linden Primary, in Evington, Leicester.
Head teacher Zaheer Mohamed spoke about the incident the day after a traffic camera was switched on outside his Headland Road school.
The camera uses automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) to issue a fixed penalty of £70 to any driver parking on zigzag lines or keep clear areas outside the school.
Mr Mohammed said: “The incident with the boy happened a couple of months ago or so.
“It was in the morning, at the start of the day. The boy had an asthma attack. He used his inhaler but did not settle down so we called for an ambulance.
“When the paramedics arrived they were unable to drive their ambulance into the school car park because someone had parked a car on zigzag lines.
“This obviously delayed them a bit. Fortunately, the child did not need to be put into the ambulance and taken to hospital but if he had needed to be then the blocking of the car park entrance could have cost vital time.
“This is one example that shows what can happen and the ramifications of people parking inconsiderately outside schools.
“We are not trying to enforce the parking laws for the fun of it. We are trying to keep our children safe.”
Mr Mohamed said it was too early to assess if the new camera was affecting drivers’ parking decisions.
“The camera has been here a while but it was only switched on on Monday,” he said.
“Obviously, what we hope is that the threat of being fined will concentrate people’s minds.”
The £6,000 traffic camera will also be operating at six other sites, covering nine schools.
Coun Kirk Master, assistant mayor for neighbourhoods, said: “This camera is just the latest measure we’re taking to tackle dangerous school run parking.
“The message is clear – if you stop on the zigzag lines outside school you’re putting children’s safety at risk and if you’re caught on camera you will face a fine.”