Parents found flouting the Highway Code while dropping their children off at a school in Dagenham could face on-the-spot fines in the future.
The warning comes from Barking and Dagenham Council after a child at Grafton Primary School, on Grafton Road, was nearly involved in a collision as a result of poorly parked vehicles.
The council had also received concerns from the school and complaints from local residents over road safety, particularly at dropping-off and picking-up times outside the school gates.
In response, enforcement officers have been patrolling the area issuing fixed penalty charge notices to drivers parked carelessly around the school. The council is also investigating further measures to improve road safety in the area.
Councillor Syed Ghani, Cabinet Member for Enforcement and Community Safety, said: “We understand that parents live busy lives, but child safety is our number one priority and that is why we work with schools and why we’re looking into solutions that will keep the children of Barking and Dagenham safe.
“Inconsiderate parking can be problematic for local residents and potentially life-threatening for the young people on their way to and from school. That is why we encourage parents to walk-to-school where possible or use public transport.”
As part of the work with the school, the council has also created Blue Badge bay after they were made aware that a child from the school uses a wheelchair. The new bay now makes it a lot easier for the child to attend school.
The area around Grafton Primary School has been subject to a schools focused controlled-parking zone since September last year and to ensure that pupils understand road safety, the council’s Road Safety Education Officer will be delivering talks to all children from nursery through to year 6 later in the year.
The council continues to work hard to improve safety around schools and has so far installed 10 School Streets initiatives that create pedestrian and cycle only zones outside school gates at pick up and drop off times, which ultimately:
- Make roads and school journeys safer
- Reduce congestion
- Reduce pollution
- Encourage healthy and active travel
School Streets mainly operate from 8am to 9.15am and 2.45pm to 4pm on weekdays.
Under the Highway Code, rule 241 states ‘you must not park in parking spaces reserved for specific users, such as Blue Badge holders, residents or motorcycles, unless entitled to do so.
To find out more about School Streets, residents should head the council website.