Mayo County Council is launching a major new road safety campaign to tackle disruptive car parking that is endangering pupils’ lives at local schools.
The initiative is designed to raise awareness of the serious problems that obstructive parking and congestion are causing on a daily basis in reducing visibility for children crossing the road.
Many local schools suffer from the problem of thoughtless drivers who opt to use restricted zones when dropping off and collecting children.
Between 1996 and 2000, 5,928 children were killed or injured on Irish roads.
Mayo County Council wants to cut these accident rates by stopping vehicles from parking on keep clear signs, zig zag markings, footpaths, and other illegal places that create ‘danger spots’ for young people and other pedestrians.
This new campaign will see leaflets and posters distributed to parents and staff across all schools in the coming weeks – plus a range of other activities including the promotion of safe road crossing and healthier ways to get to school.
It aims to raise awareness of where drivers should not park and Mayo County Council is asking all schools to appoint junior road safety officers in their schools to highlight road safety, and deter dangerous parking.
Noel Gibbons, road safety officer, Mayo County Council, said: “Many local schools and residents are suffering with these parking problems and we’re asking motorists to be more mindful when parking even for a short period of time.
“These set down areas are outside our schools for a very good reason. They’re there to keep pupils safe by creating a sight line that enables them to see and be seen before crossing the road.
“The majority of drivers do take notice of these markings and behave responsibly – but there is also a persistent and thoughtless minority who ignore these restrictions for their own selfish convenience.
“These people continue to use restricted zones when dropping off and collecting children just to save themselves what amounts to seconds of their time.”
Garda Sergeant Donie Duignan, Divisional Traffic Corps, Castlebar, added: “It’s a pretty simple message that motorists need to understand here. Parked vehicles in these areas can mask children trying to cross the road and we have to do something about it.
“If you’re not breaking the rules then you have nothing to worry about. But if you are, we will make no apologies for taking direct action to potentially save lives. Motorists who park on cycle lanes are putting people's safety at risk.
“There is legislation in place and the penalty for parking in a cycle lane is one penalty point and a €60 fine. On conviction in a court, it's three penalty points and a €90 fine.”
