A local primary school is so concerned about parents parking dangerously near to their school entrances, and putting the children in danger, that they invited the pupils to design a banner to warn parents ‘Don’t Stop To Drop.’ Chloe Wigley, aged nine, had her design chosen out of the many colourful entries.
“We wanted to make drivers think about the risk they are taking, even if they stop for a short while. Outside the school gates gets very busy and the combination of many cars and the children could be lethal. Park a little further away and then walk to the school, this way the entrance is kept clear and the children can be seen easily. We don’t want to wait for an accident to happen, when it’s too late,” said Melanie Laing, Deputy head teacher at Southborough Primary School.
Figures across the UK show that there is an increase in children who are injured in road accidents from the age of eleven upwards, particularly as they move up to Secondary School, as they are invariably travelling alone for the first time in their young lives. Driving your child to school may seem the safest way to travel, however children are failing to learn essential road safety skills which could put them at risk. Walking as part of daily life means that children are exposed to traffic and are learning how to cross the road with their parents or carer. If parents would like to get involved in walking their children to school, contact the Road Safety Unit for details on local Walking Buses and the ‘Walk on Wednesday’ Scheme. Telephone 0208 313 4546, e-mail road.safety@bromley.gov.uk or visit the website at www.bromley.gov.uk/roadsafety.
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