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Park Smart launches in Scotland

A new road safety campaign to address problems created by drivers parking outside schools was launched this week in the West of Scotland.

Park Smart is the brainchild of the West of Scotland Road Safety Forum (WoSRSF). It features a radio campaign that focuses on the danger to children posed by parents parking or stopping too near school gates at dropping-off and picking-up times.

Research carried out by the WoSRSF and junior road safety officers shows that:

•  Most school pupils think that cars are a danger to all children

•  Most think cars should not be allowed to park near their school

•  Most cannot see traffic clearly when trying to cross the road

Aimed at peak drive times to coincide with the morning and afternoon school-runs, the radio ad features a 'smart kid', wise beyond her years, lecturing parents on how inconsiderate parking can obstruct the view of both schoolchildren crossing the road and oncoming motorists - a recipe for a potentially serious road accident waiting to happen.

A spokesman for the WoSRSF said: "The safety of our children on their journey to and from school is of the utmost importance to all of us. This campaign is only asking drivers to change their parking behaviour - however this change will reduce the risk of our children being injured and will improve road safety outside all schools."

The campaign also features weatherproof banners for display outside school premises, posters and leaflets. It will run across all 12 councils in the West of Scotland and is supported by Strathclyde Police.

For further information about the West of Scotland Road Safety Forum go to www.roadsafetywestscotland.com.