Road users urged to 'Stop for the Lollipop' in new safety campaign
By Mary Dennehy
SCHOOL wardens across the county are calling on all road users to Stop for the Lollipop, after figures reveal that 29 per cent of all recorded incidents in the past five years is a driver, motorcyclist or cyclist failing to stop for the pop.
School wardens throughout the area are now calling for all road users to Stop for the Lollipop as part of a new campaign launched this week by South Dublin County Council.
School warden Jim Smith with pupils from St Peter the Apostle SNS in Neilstown and Garda Tom Conway from Ronanstown Garda Station
School wardens are employed by the council to operate 94 school crossings across South Dublin County.
Wardens are employed under the Local Government Act 1955 in order to facilitate a safer crossing of the road for primary school children.
However, according to South Dublin County Council: "Each morning, and afternoon, school wardens across the county face many challenges in the delivery of a safe-crossing service for primary school children.
"Incident data recorded at school crossings show that, over the last five years, 29 per cent of all recorded incidents at a school crossing is a driver, motorcyclist or cyclist failing to stop."
According to the council, not many people know that a school warden is legally empowered to stop traffic to facilitate a safer crossing for children on the journey to, and from, school.
As part of the campaign, all road users have been asked to be extra vigilant around schools and near school crossings by reducing their speed and being free from distraction.
"In accordance with the rules of the road, road users should always observe the instructions of the school warden and remain stopped until the school warden has safely returned to their position on the footpath," the council said.
"Failure to stop for the school warden carries the threat of penalty points and a fine for a motorist, and a fixed charge notice for cyclists.
"However, a fine and penalty point fail in comparison to the damage that can be done when a road user fails to stop at a school crossing."
As part of the campaign, primary schools, serviced by school wardens, will be sent a campaign pack consisting of a poster, key rings and a #stopforthelollipop campaign sheet to help spread the school crossing safety message throughout the wider community.
Ally Menary, Road Safety Officer with South Dublin County Council said: "School wardens provide an excellent service in creating a safer environment to enable children to independently walk, scoot or cycle to school, and fellow road users must play their part in observing the instructions of a school warden to create safer spaces outside our schools."
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