Congestion and poor parking choices is a common sight on the roads outside most schools at pick-up time, but concerns have been raised about the flouting of rules outside one school that is putting young children in danger.
The yellow zig-zag ‘keep clear’ lines at the pick-up point outside Holy Trinity C of E Primary School in Borough Road, Darwen, have recently been repainted, but some parents and carers continue to park on them.
One resident, Fred, who has caught the parking on his dashcam, claimed "some drivers are simply pretending they don't exist" and are posing a safety hazard, and called for action to be taken.
On Thursday, July 9, caregivers who had arrived early, but chose not to be identified, agreed with him, adding that some park on double yellows and the ‘keep clear’ lines every day.
When the bell rang, as happens up and down the country, those in a rush decided to risk the ticket.
While some may think this is a relatively minor parking infraction, some outside the primary school said that other features of Borough Road, which narrows to a one-way lane as a traffic calming measure, make parking in these prohibited areas a potential hazard.
The yellow zig-zags are just before this narrowing in the road, which some drivers approach faster than the 30mph limit.
The parked cars also block drivers' view of the pavement and pedestrians' view of the road. If a primary school child were to step out it could lead to a serious collision - and with around half of car sales now high, flat-fronted SUVs, a high risk of serious injury or death for a young child.
One of those at the school gates said that the parking situation was concerning, calling for more traffic patrols to cut down on bad behaviour, but added: “There’s no authority to enforce it like there used to be.”
Another added: “When [a traffic warden] did come, suddenly everyone was moving their car.”
However, it appears that the council have sent a large number of patrols to Borough Road, where many still park illegally when they are picking up their kids.
Responding to community concerns, a council spokesperson: “Blackburn with Darwen Council takes road safety extremely seriously, particularly outside schools where restrictions are in place to help protect children, parents, and other pedestrians.
“Since June 1, Civil Enforcement Officers have made 25 visits to Borough Road and one Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) was issued on the yellow keep clear markings on June 30.
"The Council has received one request for enforcement at this location during this period, on July 3. In response to concerns raised, the area will continue to be monitored as part of our routine enforcement activity.
“While enforcement officers regularly patrol Borough Road and other locations across the borough, it is not possible for officers to be present at any single location throughout the day."
But while this previous enforcement action has only led to the issuing of one ticket, the council said that anyone with concerns should share them with the authority.
They added: "Our patrol routes are intelligence-led and are regularly reviewed and updated in response to enforcement requests, observed contraventions and local priorities.
“Where requests for enforcement are received, we will always seek to deploy officers to the area as promptly as operationally possible.
"Motorists are reminded to comply with all parking restrictions and road markings, particularly outside schools, to help maintain the safety of all road users.”
Angry resident Fred agreed with the need for enforcement but said that he was ‘angry’ that the council had spent money repainting the road to make it safer, only for a ‘selfish minority to ignore them’.
Fred also expressed concern about the example it set to children, saying: “Road safety begins with personal responsibility, and those entrusted with taking children to and from school should be leading by example, not putting others at risk.”
It is illegal to park, stop or wait on zigzags, and drivers who do so can be fined or receive points on their licence.
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