School crossing patrols
The Council actively promotes walking and cycling in the borough and are working with schools to encourage their parents and carers to consider walking, cycling or using public transport on their journey's to and from school.
The aim of this programme is to ease congestion at the busiest times of the day and to encourage Hackney's residents to become fitter and healthier. School crossing patrols operate at certain places where it can be or difficult to cross the road when walking to and from school. This is not necessarily outside a school, but could be anywhere identified as a direct route to a school.
Across the borough we have approximately 41 school crossing patrol sites. Like other authorities we have to follow strict national criteria for the safety of school crosssing patrol operators and the members of the public using the site. The site assessment, takes into account the number of pupils crossing, the volume and speed of traffic and any special site characteristics.
We constantly review all the sites, and the process established, to identify and approve new sites. We also disestablish sites that no longer meet the criteria
Although we provide school crossing patrol sites and the personnel to operate them, parents are still responsible for making sure their children get to school safely.
Parents and carers responsibilities
Remember, if you are crossing with your child at a patrol site-
- wait at the kerb
- don't follow the patrol out into the road
- only walk across when the patrol tells you
- always walk in front of the patrol, not behind
- do not cycle or use a scooter whilst crossing, always walk
This is a discretionary service and it remains the responsibility of parents to ensure the safety of children travelling to and from school.
The law requires drivers to stop when the Stop sign (Lollipop) is held upright and the patrol officer is in the correct uniform. It is an offence under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 if a driver does not stop when signalled to do so by a school crosssing patrol officer.
The penalties for not stopping include -
- a fine of up to £1,000
- three penalty points on your driving licence.
The Transport Act 2000 states that a patrol can stop traffic for any pedestrians and not just for school children or those accompanying a school child.
Riders and drivers responsiblities
Remember, if you are approaching a patrol site:
- slow down and be prepared to stop
- stop at the patrol's signal
- it is an offence not to stop at a patrol's signal and your driving licence could be endorsed if convicted by three penalty points and you could be fined up to £1,000
- be patient - a child's life could be at stake.
Patrol responsibilities
School crosssing patrol officers sometimes known as 'Lollipop People', work on school days for approximately 45 minutes each morning and afternoon.
The council is responsible for the recruitment, training and supervision of all of its school crossing patrol staff, and the overall funding of the service.
We regard school crossing patrol oficers as valued members of the Road Safety Team. They provide a valuable service to the community, by making the journey safer for young people when travelling to and from school.
For more information on becoming a School Crossing Patrol Operative or having a site assessed
Contact
Tel: 020 8356 8339 or 020 8356 4963.
Or visit the jobs and careers page.
Stop means stop
We are currently running a campaign for drivers, cyclists and motorcyclists urging them to take extra care when driving around and through the streets of Hackney. School crossing patrols in Hackney have experienced some near-misses with cyclists, drivers and motorcyclists ignoring them or not seeing them when they walk into the road with their 'lollipop' sign.
School crossing patrols are there to help to get children across the road safely and should not be regarded by some as an inconvenience.
Stop means Stop is a nationally recognised initiative supported by the Council. It aims to highlight the importance of stopping when the patrol officer is in the road, in the correct uniform, and displaying the STOP sign. Penalties for not stopping are three points on your licence and up to £1,000 fine.
It is so important to us that we have funded an advert on the back of a bus which will cover several of routes where we have had incidents of not stopping at School Crossing Patrol sites. In addition to this we will be asking schools where we have had problems with cyclists, drivers and motorcyclist ignoring the School Crossing Patrols to place banners outside the school to raise awareness.
The safety of our school crossing patrol men and women is very important to us as is that of all those that cross with them at these sites. We urge people to slow down as they approach school crossing patrol sites and be prepared to stop.
Page updated: 19 Dec 2011
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