‘STOP for the lollipop’ – that is the message from Warwickshire County Council.
Lollipop men and women are increasingly being put at risk by drivers failing to stop as they help children cross the road safely.
But now drivers who ignore school crossing patrols could face a £1,000 fine and three penalty points on their license as part of council crackdown.
The Observer reported a near miss at a crossing in Whitnash at the end of last year and since then the council has received reports of near misses outside Warwickshire schools.
County road safety manager Philippa Young said: “Some motorists in Warwickshire are putting lives at risk by refusing to slow down and stop for our school crossing patrols and are even continuing to drive around them in the road.
“Many people are not aware that it is an offence for drivers to move off while the patrol is still standing in the road. It is also an offence for any driver to fail to stop for a school crossing patrol who is displaying the patrol stop sign and is wearing the official uniform.
“We are extremely thankful to the majority of drivers who do stop when requested, but the main purpose of our patrols and our campaign is to make sure no one is hurt or injured while crossing the road.”
By law, under the Road Traffic Act 1988, when a crossing patrol raises their stop sign even if they have not completely stepped out into the road, all drivers must be prepared to wait until all pedestrians have crossed safely.
Visit www.warwickshire.gov.uk/schoolcrossingpatrols for further details.
