On Wednesday, July 12, 2023 at 8:03:58 PM UTC+1,
swldx...@gmail.com wrote:
QUOTE: “Certainly a lot of the time it’s about giving confidence, giving confidence to other road users, in terms of those choices they might want to make but ensuring that they’re safe, they’re safe for them, they’re safe for their children,
and that needs to be commended.” ENDS
Ah but the speeding drivers don't give a toss about the children, by definition.
Not unless there's a camera around.
More than one in five parent drivers (21 per cent) admit they have exceeded the speed limit outside their child's school – and a quarter don't even know what the speed limit is. Over half of parents (six in 10) have wound up in an argument with other
parents over driving mishaps outside schools, according to a poll of 2,000 motorists, with children aged five to 16.
The top gripes for parent drivers include parents or children walking in the road or crossing without looking, and people leaving their engines on while waiting for children. Blocking pathways or driveways are also among the top 10 annoyances – but
more than one in five (22 per cent) admit they have blocked a driveway in an effort to get closer to the school gate.
And almost a third (30 per cent) of parent motorists admitted to parking outside the school gates.
Bryn Brooker, head of road safety at dash cam leaders Nextbase, which commissioned the research and quiz, said: “School drop-off and pick up should be a happy time for families – but instead it’s a time of worry, stress, and ultimately risk. With
so many not knowing the rules of the road around their schools, it’s resulting in 80 per cent of parents reporting arguments every school term.”
Mary Williams OBE, chief executive officer of road safety charity Brake, said: “The school run carries risks for children for so many reasons, including peak traffic times, drivers feeling rushed when they should be focussed on safety, unsafe parking,
and traffic pollution.
“It can be even more risky in the darker winter months. This survey highlights many dangerous behaviours around the school run, from speeding to engine idling, risking children’s lives and lungs.
“It is vital to have effective road safety measures in our communities to protect children and families, and enable us to travel in healthy ways that benefit us all by walking and cycling. We need more segregated cycle paths, traffic free zones, and
low speed limits across communities to end the carnage on roads.”
Just under one in three respondents (29 per cent) will leave their engines running, emitting fumes while waiting for kids to emerge from school. And a further 34 per cent would appreciate dash cams being used to settle disputes, according to the OnePoll
figures.
In fact, a fifth (21 per cent) have already used dash cam footage to clear up a disagreement about which motorist was in the wrong.
The top reason parents will have broken the rules of the Highway Code outside their children’s school was found to be simply wanting to get there quicker (54 per cent).
However, 53 per cent worry they won’t be able to find a place to park, and almost half (48 per cent) admit they don’t always pay enough attention. Despite accepting they sometimes commit their own driving offences, 55 per cent wish more was done to
enforce road safety outside their children’s schools.
Just over a third (37 per cent) would like to see larger fines for careless driving. And one in three - 33 per cent - want teachers to do more to dissuade poor motoring habits.
Three in 10 have seen parents being fined – or at least told off – for driving habits around their children’s school. And two in five (39 per cent) have personally witnessed a crash, or dangerous parking or driving in this busy area.
Bryn Brooker added: “For those who are the innocent party in a collision, a dash cam can be a real blessing, as the footage makes police and insurers’ lives so much easier. Having evidence to prove that you were not at fault has shown to be the most
useful tool. It is also helping to make the roads safer, by helping others understand how to drive in high risk areas.”
Top gripes parents have about driving outside their children's school
Parents/children crossing the road without looking
People leaving their engines running while waiting for children
Parents/children walking in the road
Blocking pathways
Parking on double yellow lines
Blocking driveways
Speeding
Parking in the middle of the road
Parking on zig-zag lines outside school
Parents/children walking in the cycle lane
Driving down restricted zones
Parking outside the school gates
Parking in the cycle lane
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