A road safety campaign targeting pedestrians distracted when crossing the road is underway, with pedestrians being reminded to be alert when crossing.
Promoting safe and active travel for school aged pedestrians is part of the council’s local transport plan and road safety education programme. It recognises that young people travelling to school will be distracted by using their phone on their journeys. The council are reminding all pedestrians not to be distracted when crossing the road. Analysis of national statistics show that the most common road safety factor allocated to pedestrians in fatal or serious accidents with a vehicle was ‘ineffective observation by the pedestrian’.
Councillor Nicholas Bennett JP Executive member for Transport, Highways and Road Safety said "Whilst the long-term trends are down, we are not complacent about road safety and education is vital. We see so many people crossing the road with their head down engrossed in texting or reading social media oblivious to the potential danger around them and our campaign is designed to raise this important issue.”
Councillor Bennett continued, “Alongside this, we are also reminding drivers about leaving engines running or idling, with the anti-idling posters reinforcing our message already prominently displayed outside many schools. Sitting in your car which is belching out fumes, is not only bad for the environment but disastrous for young lungs and hearts. Sadly, the worst offenders are some parents waiting to pick up their child from school. You can be fined! As a reminder, please don't park on the zig zag lines outside the school gate, they are there to protect your child and again you can be fined. We have several enforcement cameras used at schools, which are rotated to locations where parking has been identified as a consistent and ongoing issue.”
Whilst Bromley has seen the largest reduction of people killed or seriously injured on the borough’s roads, 51 per cent, compared with anywhere else in London, work to support road safety is continuing. Bromley has the most gold accredited schools compared with any other London borough, which demonstrates the on-going work by the council and commitment by schools to the programme.
Ends
For media enquiries, please contact Andrew Rogers, Head of Public Affairs Officer, on 020 8461 7670 or email: Andrew.Rogers@bromley.gov.uk.