Rochdale launches crackdown on dangerous parking outside schools

Rochdale Council has joined forces with Greater Manchester Police in a campaign targeting drivers who put children’s lives at risk by parking on zigzag lines outside schools.

The council is working with the police on a 12 month road safety campaign at 61 primary schools in the borough. 

The campaign aims to stop drivers who flout the law by parking on school zigzags markings and includes banners carrying the message ‘Its KEEP CLEAR for a reason! There is no excuse!’ Council officers and the police will also issue fixed penalty notices to drivers who break the law.

Councillor Jacqui Beswick, cabinet member for Place and Regulation at Rochdale Borough Council, said: “The aim of the yellow zigzags is create a safe area near schools for both children and adults to cross the road where they won’t have their view obscured by parked cars. 

“Sometimes we get pedestrians trying to cross from behind parked cars but they cannot see if the road is clear because an inconsiderate driver has chosen to park illegally and in a dangerous way.

“Excuses such as ‘I didn’t know I couldn’t park there’, ‘There was nowhere else to park’ and ‘I am only here for minute’ are not acceptable. It is illegal to park on these lines and there are no exemptions. Signs at the side of the markings clearly state ‘no stopping’, so there really is no excuse to park there.

“Our message is quite simple keep the zigzag lines clear and keep our children safe.”

Superintendent John Graves of GMP’s Rochdale Division said: "Zig-zag lines have been an iconic pedestrian safety feature on our roads for decades, and everyone knows exactly why they exist. Putting it into its simplest terms, selfish and lazy drivers who wilfully ignore these markings put lives at risk.  As well as breaking the law, it is socially unacceptable and I want to encourage people to get involved in this campaign and help to make Rochdale's roads safer."