ExKiwilass

We have an on-going issue at kid's school with asshole parents in cars ignoring: fire lanes, cones, stop signs, pedestrian walkways etc so they can drop their little snowflakes off as close to the school as possible. Apart from the sheer obnoxiousness of it I'm actually worried that one day one of the walking to school kids is going to get hit/killed by some idiot parent in an SUV. Am I the only one dealing with this bs? Any suggestions?

withabix

It's just the same in the UK.

Ok, well not quite. Here in Canada it seems that it must be illegal to walk anywhere, judging by the lack of pedestrians in most places.

ExKiwilass

In our city many neighbourhoods don't have sidewalks, which puts pedestrians at risk. That's part of the problem. The road into the school is not school property and the school has requested the neighbours pay for a sidewalk but they won't (our city won't pay, the house owners have to). As a result, kids walking to school have to walk on the road. it's crazy.

Howefamily

Our school is up it's own driveway with a separate road in and out for cars dropping off so no issues here

Almost Canadian

We had a similar issue. My wife took it up with the school and they weren't interested. I spoke to the principal indicating that, as the school knew about the issue, I would happily represent, pro bono, any child that suffered injuries as a result of an incident as you have described. I said that, of course, I would be suing the driver, the school and the principal (individually) as I would argue that the school and the principal had notice of the issue and that, to do nothing, would be negligent.

I don't know if the two incidents were related but the Calgary Police Service were present for the next month or two on a regular basis moving drivers along (the people were parking in a designated no parking zone).

End of problem.

withabix

That's part of the problem. They should be walking.

Oink

Can't they just catch the bus?

ExKiwilass

AC, that rocks. I wish I was lawyer so I could pull that shit on them. Hmmm.

Oink - I wish. These are very Special Snowflakes who may be kidnapped by the Paedophile Man. You know, the Paedophile everyone's terrified of and won't let their kids play outside just in case. Therefore they must be dropped off.

There are a number of kids that walk and they are trying to encourage more, but, y'know. Paedophiles. blah.

Howefamily

Not all the time no

ExKiwilass

+1

ExKiwilass

why not?

Howefamily

What if they are too far away to walk? What if it's driving rain? What if it's minus 42 in the windchill?
Isn't that a parents choice to make?

ExKiwilass

Not when it impacts on the safety of others, no. Not when said parents regularly ignore signage and safety for their own convenience, no.

Howefamily

Absolutely agree, safety should never be a compromise. That issue isn't at our school, so no worries. The setup and available space is obviously different.

Flossie and Jim

Could you and a few other parents badger the local councillor who could then badger the local police to come and move people along?

Maybe get something in the local newspaper to shame the school/council/neighbours?

Suggest some kind of road safety event where the kids can learn about safety and then pester and badger their parents

Stand there in a hi vis jacket with a fake speed camera like some people in the UK do?

Some schools have the older kids help out with crossing the younger kids and stuff - seeing other kids there may get the message over better.

Other schools have a "walking bus" where all the kids walking to school kind of meet up on the route on the way, wearing hi vis vests so it makes a big point that they are walking to school.

Good luck - its a toughie