Banner campaign targets dangerous ‘school run’ parking

Bury Council’s road safety team and Greater Manchester Police have launched a safer parking campaign to coincide with the start of the new academic year.

The Safer Schools Parking Banner scheme will highlight the dangers of parking on the zigzag ‘school keep clear’ markings, parking too close to schools and the congestion that this can create.

More than half of the borough’s primary schools (36 out of 64) are taking part in the scheme, which was launched on Wednesday (4 September) at Our Lady of Grace RC Primary School in Prestwich.

PC Chris Grayshon from Prestwich Neighbourhood Policing Team, who proposed the scheme, said: “Although many road users may view illegal and dangerous parking as a technical offence, they do not realise the danger that it causes for other road users, particularly vulnerable road users, including their own children. It also creates a competitive environment on the road, which leads to selfish and aggressive behaviour.”

Schools will be given three banners, each carrying a more severe safer parking message, which they will display on school railings. Schools will monitor the effect that each banner is having, and decide whether they need to progress to the next banner. Information will also be sent to parents and carers highlighting the scheme and other safety initiatives carried out by the school concerned.

Jan Brabin, senior road safety officer at Bury Council, said: “We offer a wide range of in-class and practical road safety lessons and training to children and young people, both at primary and high school level. Parents and carers can reinforce this work by setting a good example when using roads, and doing their upmost to reduce congestion and conflict outside schools.”

Councillor Tony Isherwood, cabinet member for environment, said: “We believe that, by using the banners, we can encourage behaviour change through education and publicity. Enforcement can be kept as an option to highlight the issues created by dangerous parking, but ultimately the success of any scheme will depend on the compliance of drivers.”

ENDS

Press release issued: 6 September 2013.

Picture attached: Pupils from Our Lady of Grace RC Primary School launch the safer parking campaign ,with (back, from left) head teacher Pat Jones, PC Chris Grayshon, Cllr Paddy Heneghan, and senior road safety officer Jan Brabin.

Notes to editors: School Keep Clear Markings and Safer Parking

School Keep Clear markings have been installed to provide children with an area outside of school, free from parked vehicles where they should be able to cross more easily and safely.

Rule 238 of the Highway Code states: “You MUST NOT wait or park, or stop to set down and pick up passengers, on school entrance markings when upright signs indicate a prohibition of stopping.”

Rule 242 of the Highway Code states: “You MUST NOT leave your vehicle or trailer in a dangerous position or where it causes any unnecessary obstruction of the road.”

Rule 243 of the Highway Code states: “Do not stop or park:

-  Near a school entrance.

-  Anywhere you would prevent access for emergency vehicles.

-  Opposite or within 10 metres of a junction except in an authorised parking space.

-  In front of an entrance to a property.”

Bury Council has installed legally enforceable School Keep Clear markings outside schools in Bury, which are accompanied by yellow backed upright signs indicating the times of the Traffic Regulation Order.