Folks,
Are these markings invisibile these days?
I often do the school run on my bike with my youngest on a separate crossbar saddle.
The school is on a narrow-ish lane with some turning/parking areas at the far end.
Most parents don't park or drop off on the yellow school entrance markings.
A minority do, and some even reverse their MPV/estates into the school entrance to turn round. As a school parent governor responsibile for health and safety, I am beginning to contemplate "calling in the law" on this one. The head teacher has included requests to desist in general letters to parents. There has been a sign erected saying "no stopping". But it still happens. And, no doubt, the school will get the blame if something happens.
Has anyone experienced similar problems, known anyone "nicked" (if so, how many points/how much were they fined?, or can you make any suggestions.)
Having to complete health and safety risk assessments for my "day job", I can see a real "nasty" emerging here:- car-bound kids with no road sense meeting parents with no road sense or consideration.
And, apparently, children have more (statisitcal) chance of being involved in an RTA as a pedestrian than being abducted.
Any advice welcomed!
rg
|
|
Locaaly, there seems to be some variation of standards. In Clitheroe, there seems to be compliance with the markings at the school i regularly pass. In other towns however, the drivers seem less careful, and use the marked area for parking during school hours. This is on a busy village street. I suspect it is due to the police presence in Clitheroe, and the existence of appointed officers to each school for advice etc. See www.lancashire.police.uk/grammar.html. Maybe some pointers here for assessment and follow-up action.
|
I read an self righteous article in the Telegraph magazine on Saturday by some woman called Tyrell which sadly summed up the 'it doesn't apply to me 'attitude of her and others of these 'Fulham Farmers' on the school run with four wheel drives which they only use to mount the pavement outside the school or their hairdressers.
Completely and utterly selfish attitude but sadly common these days.
Bus the kids to school or let 'em walk.They need the excercise judging by the childhood obesity figures bandied about.
|
|
I read that too - quite often read her column, in fact. I have a growing suspicion that about 99% of what she writes is very definitely TIC. At least I hope the bit about bidding someone else's car and scarpering to avoid the consequences was!
|
|
I work next to a school, years ago, the police would turn up now and again and book people, they haven't beed for at least three years now, it's a matter of priorities, gangs with knives going around robbing people in town in broad daylight, sword fights in residential streets, it would be rediculous to bother with people parking on yellow zigzags at the side of the greater picture.
|
|
|
The trouble is Paul that I don't think it is t i c and doesn't the bit about hitting someone elses car and not owning up just sum up the attitude of these selfish arrogant people.
It makes my blood boil that nothing is done about it.
On the plus side on the morning commute three days on the trot a police license check trap near the local council estate --- lots of pulls -- Everything from a Pug 106 to new BMW stopped in the coned off area having a little chat with the local traffic guys!
|
Also a school governor and also note the same problem. We have never been able to get the boys in blue around to ticket these characters.
It is invariably those with the largest vehicles (usually 4x4 or Chrysler Voyager etc.) that seem the most arrogant.
The other morning one mother was right outside the gate (half on pavement and half on yellow zig-zags). The pavement is very narrow and other pupils were having to squeeze past the vehicle (a 4x4, as usual). Another parent had a quiet word but was met with a volley of abuse.
Some BR'ers may recally that a few months back I had the front bumper of one of my cars clipped by a Range-Rover driver as he pulled in to park in front of me outside the school. He seemed quite unperturbed by this and confessed that he sometimes 'found it difficult to judge' exactly where is vehicle was on the road. The rear wheelarches had a collection of scrapes (it wasn't that old, either) Good job there was a child standing there then!
If I sound rather bitter its because I have had both my cars damaged by 4x4's over the last few months and in both cases the drivers were most arrogant and unpleasant. I did eventually get the money out of the both of them though..
|
|
|
So, likely points of license for this kind of thing?
3? 9?
rg
|
rg, I don't understand what you are doing.
Don't you realise that your child could be getting damp on the bike? You're directly exposing them to the dangers of fresh air. And whilst you peddle to work others are using your share of the world's fuel.
Amend your ways quickly. If you can't afford a 4x4 borrow the money. You'll find that credit is easily available once you're willing to pay 18% interest. Children such as yours often grow up worrying about the silly environment and worse still, like tie-dyed clothes and hemp in all its forms.
When you've got your 4x4 you'll be able to make all your days 'phone calls as you ferry your child to school, safe in the knowledge that if anyone gets in your way they won't feel a thing.
|
-And whilst you peddle to work others are using your share of the world's fuel.-
Maz - Pedant point
If you are 'peddling' outside a school these days it means drug dealing - if you are pedalling you are on a bike and doing your bit for the environment.
|
-And whilst you peddle to work others are using your share of the world's fuel.- Maz - Pedant point If you are 'peddling' outside a school these days it means drug dealing - if you are pedalling you are on a bike and doing your bit for the environment.
Could be doing both, if he's a particularly health conscious dealer. ;)
|
IIRC isn't the large 4 x 4 the vehicle of choice of your average drug dealer?
I find 'health conscious drug dealer' an oxymoron.
Sadly as an ex school governor I also have experienced both problems.
|
Ironically,
I drive a 4x4 and my wife uses it for the school run.
But we park it and walk the 100yds to the school.
rg
|
|
|
|
|
rg,
Our childrens' school negotiated with the local council to make a nearby car park free for the first hour so that school runners could use it. They then organised crocodile walkers and set up competitions between classes - there is a golden boot awarded to the class who has the most walkers during the week.
Aim is to move the parking from outside the school to the car park, and encourage the short (150 yard) walk.
Seems to work.
|
Our school has great co-operation from the police - on a regular basis they will come along and book everyone who is parked on the zig zags. As it is situated near a roundabout and also a side street, they will also book anyone parked to close to either.
Don't know if one of the coppers is a parent but he seems to get great satisfaction booking them all one at a time and making them wait till he has completed.
On one occasion witnessed a parent sitting patiently in their car at 9.30 am waiting to collect a booking. Brilliant!
|
Patently, Bobby G,
Thanks -very- much.
I only dream of both results. "Walking Bus" may be an alterantive, but depends on parent participation.
Any idea how many points the offenders got?
rg
|
"Are these markings invisible these days"
Only as invisible as other markings. Our village main street has double yellow lines and then a zebra crossing with its zig-zags. Also there are the usual newsagents, pizza place and bread/sandwich shop. Every morning I can guarantee at least 2 cars/vans on double yellow while people pick up their paper. Every lunchtime a couple of vans outside the bakers and every evening a line of cars all along the street, on the zig-zags and on a couple of occasions vehicles on the pavement at the access to the zebra blocking it. I'm afraid it is just another manifestation of people's lack of consideration for others and their laziness.
By the way, there are also two car parks which mean a maximum walk of 50 yards to all the shops, but these paeople can't be bothered to use them - would rather cause lines of jammed traffic.
Another by the way - it's all types of vehicles, not noticably 4x4s! But I have to say that the preferred reading seems to be the "red-tops"!
|
Another by the way - it's all types of vehicles, not noticably 4x4s! But I have to say that the preferred reading seems to be the "red-tops"!
Obviously a down-market area then ;-)
We have one lovely parent who drives a Ford 4x4 fitted with something called a 'truckman' body (I'm too well-up on these things). Its absolutely enormous, about the size of a 12-seater minibus (they only have one child...).
The school is small and rural and located on a narrow lane - just wide enough for two Mondeos to pass. You can image the chaos when this thing is travelling one way and it meets a 4x4 travelling the other. Any kids walking to school have to take cover in the hedge to avoid being squashed.
Anyway, we now have a policeman on the governing body, so I have hopes that something might be done....
|
But I have to say that the preferredreading >> seems to be the "red-tops"! >> Obviously a down-market area then ;-)
That's what I would have thought but I once managed a shop in a very posh closed community site and was horrified to discover that The Sun accounted for around 85% of sales, Mirror around 10%, 5% amongst the rest.
|
"Obviously a down-market area then ;-)2
obviously you have misunderstood my post - these are the little men and little women coming to our establishments to do a spot of gardening, cleaning and general service. Equally obviously, they stop at the pizza place in the evening to get something to eat when they have finished serving our dinner. We wouldn't want common types living in our servants' quarters - after all, what would the butler say?
|
|
I used to drop off/pick up a child at/from the same school each day. There used to be the same mother who parked on the zig-zag markings each day. One day, the council employed parking attendants were patrolling and gave said woman a ticket. She never parked there again. Could be worth finding out whether parking in your area in under the control of the police or the local authority.
|
|
|
|
|
Don't know if it was points or just parking ticket. Didn't have the guts to ask as my smug grin would probably have earned me a new face!
|
|
|
|
|
Hi,
It can be six points at least and a fine of about 100 pounds.
More importantly, you could be banned if your points went over 12.
Even more importantly, you must advise your insureres - your next insurance renewal will increase by approx 25%.
So it is worth reporting this people - liaise with the headmaster - normally people taht park on these markings have no tax or insurance. Therefore you would be helping society to get rid of a potential death trap.
Hope this helps.
MM
|
SWMBO works as a school secretary and the school recently banned parents from driving into the school grounds to drop their little darlings off. Reason? the number of instances where staff cars have been damaged, and the offending parent has just pink fluffy diced off.
The situation at the school gate is chaotic, undisciplined and fraught with risk, but it always has been.
Oz (as was)
|
|
|
|
A lot of people don't realise that it is no stopping on these zig-zag lines, so this means no dropping off or picking up in the area.
|
|
|
