Parents encouraged to Park Smart!

South Lanarkshire Council has become the first council from the West of Scotland Road Safety Forum to introduce the Park Smart initiative across all its primary schools after a very encouraging response to a pilot scheme in August 2002.

Irresponsible parking and traffic congestion outside schools is a recognised problem across Scotland. In a bid to combat this, South Lanarkshire Council piloted ‘Park Smart’ - a campaign to tackle drivers who stop on the ‘zig zag’ lines outside schools, or at the school entrance, to drop off and collect children.

"By highlighting that parked cars increase the risk of road accidents outside schools - and that traffic congestion at the entrance can prevent or delay emergency service vehicles reaching the school - Park Smart aims to make drivers fully aware that stopping here is selfish and irresponsible," said councillor Billy McCaig, chair of the South Lanarkshire forum.

Representatives of the local emergency services were happy to pledge their support and acknowledge the need for action at the launch of the Park Smart pilot.

"It is important to keep access to gates and roads clear for the emergency services," said Sandy Lochrie of East Kilbride’s ambulance service. "In an emergency the time any service takes to reach people - whether it is the ambulance, police or fire service - can make the difference between life and death."

Sergeant John Curson of Strathclyde Police added his views. "Strathclyde police force is currently working with the Scottish Road Safety Campaign to look at the issue of road safety and the use of our roads network in relation to young children," he said. "We hope that Park Smart will help raise awareness among parents of the dangers of parking vehicles too close to the school access routes."

Following the success of the pilot, councillor McCaig outlined development of the scheme. "As well as an enthusiastic response from the schools taking part the council received a significant number of requests from other schools wishing to join the initiative," he said. "Thanks to funding from the council’s education resources and the Community Safety Partnership we were delighted to be able to expand the initiative to cover all of the 124 primary schools in South Lanarkshire."

By the end of October 2002, the council’s road safety team had supplied Park Smart banners displaying the message that stopping on the zig zags or outside the school entrance is dangerous and selfish to all the area’s primary schools. The Team also provided Park Smart posters and leaflets for distribution within schools.

Eleanor Gibson, South Lanarkshire Council’s RSO offered parents some practical advice. "Ideally parents should walk with their child to and from school, teach them road safety skills and show them how to cross the road carefully," she said. "However, if it is not possible to walk, then parents should park well away from the school, take great care to look out for children if they have to pass the school gates, and walk the remaining distance with their child."

Further information about this initiative can be obtained by contacting Eleanor Gibson, road safety officer, South Lanarkshire Council, Montrose House, Hamilton ML3 6LL. Tel 01698 453617 or Fax 01698 453672 or email: eleanor.gibson@southlanarkshire.gov.uk