Essex fights back against ‘failure to stops’

School Crossing Patrol managers throughout the UK share a common concern about the number of motorists who refuse to stop at crossing sites – but Essex County Council’s SCP Service and Essex Police are making it clear that such behaviour will not be tolerated.

There has been an alarming increase in the number of incidents of failure to stop, and there is enormous frustration over the lack of prosecutions carried out against motorists who persist in endangering other road users.

However, in the past four weeks alone two successful prosecutions have been carried out in cases of driving without due care and attention at crossing sites in Essex.

In the most recent case the SCP had stopped traffic at a zebra crossing. As the children were making their way across the road a car approached at speed with no indication of slowing down.

The SCP shouted a warning to the children but the vehicle collided with a nine-year-old and narrowly missed the patrol and other children. The motorist continued through the crossing and attempted to drive away but was apprehended by a postman who had stopped his van for the crossing. The child sustained injuries including a broken ankle. Appearing in court, the driver admitted a charge of driving without due care and attention and was disqualified from driving for a year and ordered to pay a fine of £160.

In an earlier case a vehicle ploughed straight through the crossing, striking three children, two of whom required hospital treatment. In this instance the driver received four points and a £160 fine.

"An essential element for success is the co-operation of local police," says Keith Welham, who oversees the SCP service in Essex. "When they dedicate their resources to addressing these reported incidents of failure to stop at a school crossing site the system works extremely well.’

Three other incidents in Essex were successfully prosecuted in 2002. Further information can be obtained form Keith Wellham, Keith.Welham@essexcc.gov.uk