POLICE have today warned that a child or lollipop man or woman could be killed unless motorists stop speeding outside a St Brelade school.
They spoke out after months of worrying incidents at La Moye Primary School during which motorists have driven through crossings while children were being guided across the 40 mph limit road. Police say that as well as a number of near misses, the school’s two crossing patrol officers have been subjected to months of verbal abuse from motorists.
States police road safety officer Philip Blake says that motorists should slow down before they kill or seriously injure someone. He said: ‘Obviously what is happening is extremely dangerous and I would ask motorists to take great care when driving past schools.
‘We have had reports of cars failing to stop for the crossing patrol officers, and there have been near misses, too. If a motorist is driving along that road at 40 mph and is not paying attention, he or she could easily cause serious injury or worse. If a child, attendant or one of the parents was hit at 40 mph, they would have little chance of surviving.
‘I appreciate that people are often in a rush at these times of day, but they must be patient with the patrols.’
• Picture: Tony Pike (00594093)
Article posted on 9th October, 2008 - 2.57pm
10 Article Comments
Change the speed limit to 20MPH on approaching the school, most of the parishes have reduced speed limits near school. Also a zebra crossing should be there.
I struggle to think that the reason for these near misses outside this school is soley down to irresponsible drivers. I think Mr Blake should look into making the crossing more visable and maybe even reducing the speed limit in that particular area.
If people were more organised and left home on time for work there would be no need to rush around and take it out on other people.
Lack of ’speed bumps’ in this island is atrocious!
This is a simple & very affective technique which leaves even the most irresponsible of drivers without a choice!
I’m amazed these people even still have licenses!
I drop my kid off there everyday its crazy! slow these cars down to 10mph, get the police out of their patrol cars and onto the streets to implement this,if education had bought the La Moye Hotel site for school parking that would have improved safety, the present development could have been sited on the land at Les Creux( if at all, theres already to much development in the area with more planned).
I take my grandchildren to school along Route Orange from time to time and I believe the speed limit is far too high with such narrow pavements. When raining we have often been sprayed with water from inconsiderate speeding cars. The speed limit should be reduced and enforced. Childrens’ lives should have greater consideration than saving a few minutes of a car driver’s time.
There is no need to change the speed limit.
I drive around there every morning and its not possible to do much more than 20 mph anyway because of all the parents pulling in and out of the shop car park droppiing kids off.
The dangerous thing is not the speed of drivers, its the total road activity in the area: kids crossing, others being dropped in the car park, others being dropped on the road and of the other drivers.
I have seen the lollipop lady stepping out from behind a parent’s parked car nearly causing an accident.
There is a drop off point for the kids, which leads up a path to the crossing point. All parents should be made to use the drop off point, then drivers would only have to worry about the crossing, which should clearly not be just around the corner but further up the road.
It’s called enforcement. It is not only there where people speed. I live in a green lane, and people regularly travel down that road at 40MPH, and sometimes more.
We have honorary police, but they seem only able to guide traffic at a local fete. Why don’t State Police start enforcing speed limits, and allow them to issue fines?
John Davis
I drive down there every morning and evening, the road is fine for doing 40mph along, it’s the drivers who are totally incompetent!
Also, in a morning the lollypop lady steps out for each and every single person who walks up to the crossing- she doesn’t wait until there’s a group of people, which is commen sense and would also stop some of the abuse. What really drives me mad is when she stops the road for an adult by themselves- which I know in the UK is not allowed.
The speed limit on this island is ridiculously slow anyway, there are far too many 20mph that are not needed. If people were taught to drive properly (which I have seen evidence from driving schools that they are not!) then there would be as much of a problem.
There is a Facebook group for vehicle crashes in Jersey and Guernsey with many of your young people bragging about the speeds they do and putting up photographs of their accidents!
Your police would be well advised to get on there and start prosecuting these people who I would assume are quite easily identifiable.
And I hope the bleeding hearts brigade don’t tell me that these brats have ‘nothing to do’ cause that’s an utterly pathetic excuse for criminal behaviour of any kind.