Police target drivers putting children’s lives at risk
Community Inspector for Dunblane, Bridge of Allan and Stirling West Jim Young on parents who create a safety hazard for children outside primary schools
Increasing road safety for pedestrians and motorists is one of the priorities for your ward officers.
In both my wards, Stirling West and Dunblane and Bridge of Allan, we have received complaints in the past about the manner in which some parents drop-off and pick-up their children from schools. It is common for some parents to park as close as they can to the primary school to save a walk even if it means parking illegally.
This includes parking on pavements and on double yellow lines. Not only are they breaking and of any oncoming traffic to allow them to cross the road safely.
Winter makes this even more difficult due to the lack of light so it is even more important for motorists to adhere to the road markings and park legally.
Ward officers have been carrying out random patrols at the primary schools within their areas and, unsurprisingly, everyone parks appropriately when they see the high-vis jackets. It should not take this for everyone to park as they should.
We will be turning our attentions to St Ninians Primary, Stirling, in the coming weeks due to the report of indiscriminate parking over driveways and on pavements in Anderson Place and on double yellow lines outside of the school. (See story on page 7).
If you are caught parking on a pavement or over a driveway you could be charged with section 42(a) of the Road Traffic Act 1988 as you are causing an unnecessary obstruction.
This comes with a £50 fine and if your vehicle is parked and unattended it may also be uplifted and moved under this legislation. This will come at a significant cost for the registered keeper to get their vehicle back.
The head teacher at St Ninians Primary has worked hard at raising this issue with parents in the school newsletter and by sending out group texts to make them aware of the issue.
The school has also spoken to some of the main offenders and asked them to refrain from parking in this manner but unfortunately some continue to offend. There is drop-off and pick-up zone and car park at the rear of the primary school. This area is accessed by driving around the rear of Stirling High School and is linked to the school by a small fenced walk way. Please use this area as there are plenty of spaces for parking there. If you are unsure as how to access this area then speak to someone at the school and they will show you.
Ward officers will be carrying out random patrols at the school and will be making themselves known to anyone parking illegally or indiscriminately. Please adhere to the road markings as there is no need to park in this manner when there is sufficient parking at the rear of the primary school. Let’s make the journey to and from school safer for all the children and not just your own.