PSNI issues term time road safety appeal

12.00 | 1 September 2015 | | 5 comments

As new school and college terms begin, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) is urging parents and road users to anticipate heavier traffic.

Assistant chief constable Alan Todd, PSNI, said: “Over the summer months, many of us have benefitted from lower levels of traffic and shorter journey times.

“As the new academic term begins, it is essential that all road users remain focused on their driving, plan their journey and leave plenty of time as there will be delays.

“Most importantly, drivers should keep an eye out for children and young people on bicycles or on foot, particularly when close to schools, junctions and at bus stops.

“Parents should ensure that high visibility clothing and bags are worn and carried by children and that road safety instruction is given, in particular, how to cross the road safely – looking both ways without being distracted by friends, mobile phones or music players.

”They should also be aware that it’s better to miss the bus and be late as opposed to taking their chances by running across roads to catch a bus.”

ACC Todd also appealed for parents on the school run to slow down and stay well within the speed limits, and ensure that children travelling to school in cars are properly restrained.

He said: “In a crash at just 30mph, an unrestrained child can be thrown forward with a force 30 to 60 times their body weight. This means that they would be thrown about inside the vehicle, injuring them and quite possibly seriously injuring or even killing other passengers. They are also likely to be ejected from the car through one of the windows.”

 

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    Yes Idris.
    All those things have an effect not only on our psychology but on all aspects of road safety. DfT are now taking all those matters that you say seriously into account.


    Bob Craven Lancs….Space is Safe campaigner
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    What next – warnings that days will be shorter, nights longer and weather colder?


    Idris Francis Fight Back With Facts Petersfield
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    Can’t disagree with you Martin. All I can say is that for the whole of the period of the school holidays traffic in my location is reduced by some 90%.

    I further agree that some kids are sent to or taken to school more than 2 miles away from their home addresses, particularly in rural areas. However they are the minority round here and again a presumption on my part that some 95% of kids in my location go to a local school. It may be different in the wealthier parts of the country.


    Bob Craven lancs…Space is Safe Campaigner
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    I think you may have made one or two assumptions there Bob!

    When the schools are on holiday, the drop in traffic (and I’d dispute a 90% reduction) is not only due to children not being taken to school by car in that period, but also it’s the time when a lot of commuting parents take time off work, to be with their children. That’s why the car park, here at work, has been remarkably quiet over the last six weeks.

    Also, whilst some school runs by car can be very short, I do know of many parents who make a 20 mile plus journey every school day, to take their children to a “good” school, when a quite reasonable school, is a short walking distance away.


    Martin, Suffolk
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    Its remarkable to note just how quiet our streets and roads are during the school holidays. I would say that there is a reduction of some 90% of vehicles on the roads. So 9 out of 10 vehicles at school time are on the school run. It’s no wonder that this is a dangerous time for all road users. It is probably also true that the distances travelled by these vehicles is minimal. Of only a couple of miles in total.If as advised the drivers set off in good time and gave a greater distance between each other there would be less chaos and confusion and all road users would be advantaged by the giving of space and be more readily seen. Space is Safe applies in these congested circumstances. Be safe be seen is an old adage but still a correct one.


    Bob Craven Lancs…Space is Safe Campaigner.
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