Personalised signs – a new approach to school gate road safety

Personalised road safety signs are being used in over 50 London schools to encourage parents to park safely and considerately. To date the signs have been used in schools in Barking, Dagenham and Newham - and staff and road safety professionals are pleased with the public reaction.

The signs are the brainchild of John Howard of Barking and Dagenham’s road safety team. "I came up with idea about two years ago after constant complaints from schools and parents about parking outside schools," he said. "Schools were particularly anxious to keep the zigzag areas free.

"My thinking was to produce a sign that was as close to the problem area as possible and that would appeal to the better nature of the offending 'parker' rather than the usual 'thou shalt not' message," he added.

John noticed that most areas with zigzag lines have a supporting guardrail and thought that this would be a good location for the sign. In keeping with current trends he thought a message from the children would work best and settled for 'The children of such and such school say......show you care, park elsewhere. Thank you’.''

The signs are manufactured in 3mm aluminium, printed black on yellow, and are sized 1930mm x 195mm x 35mm to fit the 2m guard rails outside school. Prices range from £122.80 to £226.84, depending on quantity.

Does the sign work? "I haven't done any formal analysis but I started off using the sign at two school sites and ended up with over 50," John Howard says. "This was largely due to parents, teachers and governors seeing the sign and wanting one for their own site. Schools say they like the sign because it carries a positive message and shows that they are playing their part in trying to address the problem."

Further information about the signs can be obtained from John Howard, john.howard@lbbd.gov.uk, or Steven Mervish, HA Printing Services, 020 8491 1206 (Direct), 07930 443327 (Mobile), steven.haprint@ntlworld.com