THE Lollipop Lady at Tutshill School has had a few nasty experiences with speeding motorists whilst carrying out her duties as a crossing patrol. Some motorists have had the gall to tell her how she should operate.
After becoming aware of the above, Tidenham Parish Council carried out a traffic survey using the police radar gun. The results were frightening. Only eight out of the first 63 vehicles checked were travelling below the 30 mph speed limit, 15 were travelling in excess of 40 mph, with the fastest recorded at 47 mph. A further check was carried out a few days later, with almost identical speeds noted. However, this time the fastest speed recorded was a reckless 57 mph.
A meeting with Gloucestershire County Coun-cil road safety officer, and a police representative took place outside the school, in an attempt to provide ways of hopefully reducing the speeds of motorists. As a result of this meeting it was decided to implement a few changes.
1. To extend the yellow zigzag lines outside the school.
2. Move one of the wigwag flashing lights (which warn of a school crossing) nearer to the school.
3. Change the location from where the crossing patrol operates, to a position farther away from a bend in the road.
4. Cut some small saplings to provide a better line of sight for drivers.
5. Erect a new sign indicating 90 yards to the crossing.
It was thought that the above measures would make the lollipop lady's job far safer, and that parents would be reassured that their children would be safer when crossing the road. But this was not so. Despite the changes, there remains a problem, and I'm afraid the problem during the school run lies mainly with parents speeding. They know who they are. At a meeting last week, someone said, 'name them and shame them.' It is being considered.
After dropping off or picking up their children, it would seem that the Jekyl and Hyde syndrome kicks in and some become Michael Schumacher. Perhaps if those guilty of speeding were to set their alarm clocks a little earlier they may not have to rush away from the school in order not to be late for work or whatever.
It must be awful to knock down a child. Just think, someone who is driving recklessly may knock down your child. So please slow down when you are in the vicinity of any school; also, pay due respect to the lollipop person, after all, he or she is trying, sometimes against all the odds, to provide safe passage for your children. – John Powell, school governor and parish councillor.