Drivers urged to take extra care as pupils return to school

With the return to schools across Orkney this week, Orkney Islands Council and the Police are reminding drivers to take extra care when in the vicinity of schools.

Given the time of year, parents and children are also being encouraged to leave their vehicles at home and walk or cycle to school to save clogging up built-up areas and reducing the likelihood of poor driving, parking and the potential for accidents. It’s also much better for folk’s physical and mental health, the environment and people’s pockets!

It’s also timely to remind motorists to make sure they know and obey the signals given by school crossing patrol officers (SCPOs) at school crossings.

Councillor David Dawson, Chair of the multi-agency Road Safety Forum, said: “Instilling good habits in our young children is a worthy lifelong lesson and that’s why we would like to see many more parents leading by example and leaving the car at home if at all possible - particularly in our busiest town school areas.

“We know people are busy and the weather is not always kind, but on days when it is possible, it would be great to see many more people on foot or bikes making their way to and from school. We have a particular issue at Papdale, our largest primary school, where the site itself does not lend itself well to lots of vehicles arriving and leaving at one time. This can lead to inappropriate, illegal and downright dangerous parking and manoeuvres around our school crossing patrols officers and young children.

“The Council’s team of dedicated School Crossing Patrol Officers do a fantastic job, in all weathers, helping children cross the road safely on their way to and from school. 

“Fortunately, most drivers are courteous and patient while School Crossing Patrol Officers carry out their duties, however there are increased instances of what is considered dangerous driving including speeding and threating behaviour towards Officers at their crossings.

“This not only places children in grave danger, it is totally unacceptable treatment of staff doing their job of keeping our bairns safe on their daily walk to school.

“Please consider if you can leave the car at home on certain days and make that positive choice.

PC Beverly Flett from Orkney’s local policing team says SCPOs are always highly visible: “It’s important for drivers when they see a crossing up ahead to slow down and prepare to stop. Drivers must pay attention to the signals given by school crossing patrol officers – you’re required by law to stop when the officer holds their sign out diagonally into the road.

“Slowing down and being prepared to stop, any time you see children using our roads, is just good driving – and it can make the difference between a close call and a tragic, life changing accident.

“We will be keeping a closer eye on known hot spot areas, such as Papdale Primary School, as the schools return.”

Please remember, if you are approaching a school crossing patrol site:

• Be aware of your speed
• Slow down and be ready to stop
• Stop when the School Crossing Patrol Officer enters the roadway
• Wait patiently until all pedestrians are off the road and the School Crossing Patrol Offices returns to a safe place

The signals used by SCPOs are available from the Highway Code website at https://www.highwaycodeuk.co.uk/signals-authorised-persons.html

Advice for parents and drivers is available on the Council website at https://www.orkney.gov.uk/Service-Directory/S/School-Crossing-Patrols.htm

 To find out more about working for the Council as a SCPO, or to report concerns about safety at school crossings, please contact Michelle Fogarty, Orkney Islands Council, tel:01856 353535 ext 2422 or email: Michelle.Fogarty@orkney.gov.uk - or report dangerous driving straight to the Police on the national line 101.