Browse Sections

• Education
• Special reports

Stop means stop

Stuart Pike
29/ 2/2008

PINT-sized protesters from Collyhurst schools have been driving home to motorists the message 'Stop Means Stop!'

Careless and impatient drivers are putting children's lives at risk by refusing to stop for school crossing lollipop patrols, or by driving off without checking it's clear first.

Twenty pupils from St Malachy's and Saviour Primary donned 'high vis' gear and carried campaign placards at a busy Rochdale Road crossing used by both schools.

The pelican crossing is one with a documented 'drive-through' problem and saw a lollipop lady suffer a bad elbow injury in a recent accident, while buses also reportedly chase the lights on occasions.

Motorists are legally required to stop when the school crossing patrol raises the lollipop. But there have been around 50 documented drive-throughs in the city in the last year, where drivers have failed to stop when a school crossing patrol has been in the carriageway crossing children with lollipop raised.

Councillor Richard Cowell, the council's deputy environment spokesman, said: "Driving a car carries with it a huge responsibility. If you drive aggressively or impatiently it can have catastrophic results. Drivers also need to be aware that school crossing patrols can stop the traffic for anyone who needs to cross the road - it doesn't have to be children."

Claire Van-Es, deputy head of St Malachy's RC Primary, said: "Rochdale Road is a very busy road and a lot of our children have to cross over there and into Collyhurst."

She added that the school does a lot of work with pupils drumming home road safety.

Chief Inspector Roberts of GMP's traffic network section, said: "School crossing patrols deliver an essential service making sure children get across the road safely and drivers should understand that and comply with their instructions. School crossing patrols have the legal power to stop traffic and drivers who disobey them can be fined up to £1,000 plus a minimum of three penalty points on their driving licence."

Stop means Stop! leaflets are to be distributed to public venues such as garages and libraries throughout the city.