Drivers who ignore lollipop patrols warned to expect fines of up to £2,000
Callous drivers are 'putting lives at risk' by ignoring lollipop patrols near schools.
There have been three separate reports of people flouting the law at schools in Lincoln – including Monks Abbey Primary – in the past fortnight.
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One lorry driver, a motorist and, incredibly, a driving instructor, are all said to have shown a blatant disregard for the Highway Code.
Now, a warning has been issued by Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership, which coordinates school crossing patrols, for irresponsible road users to stop doing this.
And police say they will not hesitate in prosecuting offenders.
"The county council employs about 100 school crossing patrollers whose role is to support families who walk their children to and from schools and of course to protect children," said Greg Burgess, principal road safety co-ordinator at the road safety partnership.
"The sadness is that there's a minority of drivers who choose to abuse school crossing patrollers and ignore what law says simply because they are in a rush.
"If we can identify who these people are we will not hesitate to prosecute, as we have always done.
"All we are asking for is a bit of patience and common sense.
"Driving through a school crossing patrol is careless driving, an offence which can lead to a fine of up to £2,000 plus points.
"If anyone gets knocked down you could be looking at a prison sentence if someone is killed or seriously injured."
3 Comments
by Ian, Heighington
Friday, May 14 2010, 10:16PM
“Most crossing people are pretty good, there are one or two that put up the lollipop when traffic is too close to stop safely - a little common sense on both sides does the job nicely”
by Ross, N Lincs
Friday, May 14 2010, 1:51PM
“Its in the Highway Code that the raised sign of a School crossing patrol is a sign to stop/give-way. On the rear of the current Highway Code it states 'a failure to observe any provision of this code, could be used as evidence in legal proceedings'! What this book doesn't tell you is that to injure or kill someone on the roads will endure years and years of trauma, fingers pointing at you, animosity of the relatives of the deceased or the injured now disabled. But if you could live with this, what do you have to worry about? I was exonerated for the 2 I killed and its much, much, much easier to live with, although some don't still see it this way!”
by Richard, lincoln
Friday, May 14 2010, 7:35AM
“the prison sentence (if you can call it that) for killing someone while driving is a joke they get points a fine and maybe a year or two in jail if that.
i've seen no end of cars jumping red lights or not stopping at a zebra crossings to let waiting people cross. red lights and pedestrian crossing right outside schools would only work if there accompanied by red light cameras to.”