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Rain Washes Common Sense Down The Gutter Near Schools

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The return of recent rain and showers seems to have washed away a great deal of common sense when it comes to parents picking up or dropping off their children at school, Latrobe City Council has warned.

By Latrobe City - 8th May 2007 - Back to News

Latrobe City’s acting manager local laws, Steve Wright, said local laws officers are very concerned at parents deliberately breaking the law by pulling into ‘No Stopping’ zones or into school crossing areas near schools on rainy days, so their children can avoid or minimise ‘getting wet’.

"It appears that when it rains, many drivers are prepared to break the law to get as close to the school as possible so their children spend less time in the rain between their vehicle and school," Mr Wright said.

"Where they are normally happy to park legally in an available space near the school, on rainy days the rules are flouted.

"What they are doing is extremely dangerous, putting the lives of their own children and others people’s children at risk.

"’No Stopping’ zones apply to areas around school where there is already restricted vision. Add some rain with the result of additional impaired vision for motorists; children running, often with their heads down to avoid the rain - and you have a recipe for disaster."

Mr Wright said many of the school crossing supervisors and school principals have complained about the number of drivers behaving dangerously and foolishly in the wet weather by parking where they shouldn’t.

"A number of drivers seem to think that if they pull into a ‘No Stopping’ zone for just a few seconds to drop off or pick up their kids at school it doesn’t matter. It does! During those few vital seconds they may be obscuring vision of the school crossing or creating an obstacle for other traffic. ‘No Stopping’ zones are there for a reason and the restrictions must be adhered to at all times posted on the signs," Mr Wright said.

"In recent years Latrobe City has conducted traffic safety audits around schools across the municipality and as a result the parking and drop off environs have been in many cases been adjusted to enhance safety. It is vital that parents play their part in keeping these school environs safe by obeying any parking restrictions.

"Local laws officers will be targeting drivers who flout the restrictions even if they pull in to ‘No Stopping’ areas for just a few seconds. On rainy days they will be especially vigilant, even at the expense of getting wet themselves," Mr Wright added.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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