Police target bad drivers around Bradford in a crackdown (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Police target bad drivers around Bradford in a crackdown

4:26pm Friday 5th March 2010 in

By Kathie Griffiths »

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Parents driving their children to school have been the target of a two-week police operation across Bradford.

Road policing officers have been out in force at school drop-off times, catching out mums and dads breaking the law.

The officers have been stopping errant parents, warning them and issuing fixed penalty fines to get their message across.

Today was the last day of action as part of the fortnight’s operation but drivers are being warned it is not the end – and they are being watched.

Police were waiting outside St Paul’s Primary School, Wibsey, yesterday as it opened its gates to arriving pupils.

While the majority of parents parked safely on the roadside there were plenty of others pulling up on double yellow lines, not wearing seat belts – and one who managed to drop off their child without actually stopping at all.

One parent complained there was not enough parking space to make dropping off and picking up safe.

Until police cones were given to the caretaker to block off the entrance to the school gates, some drivers were even using it as a turning point despite it being the youngsters’ main entrance.

Another driver who was issued a £60 fine the day before for not wearing a seat belt, was still not wearing one yesterday.

PC Bob Hoyle said: “It’s beyond belief. He got a warning this time but he could have got £120 in fines in just two days.

“You get parents who make their children put seat belts on but they don’t bother. That’s not being a good role model.

“It’s an education thing. Drivers are being very apologetic when we stop and talk to them but it’s their and other people’s children they are putting at risk.

“Chatting on mobiles, not wearing seat belts, parking illegally is bad on any road but even more hazardous outside a school.”

St Paul’s head teacher Catherine Haigh said because her school was opposite St Winefride’s Primary on St Paul’s Avenue there was “double the issue”.

She said: “We remind our parents through our newsletters to park safely and legally and think about our neighbours. At the end of the day it is their children and we would not want to see any child or parent involved in an accident.

“Some of our parents will challenge drivers if they spot something unsafe. We all need to set a good example.”

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Comments(14)

Hitler_ate_my_Pants says...
4:44pm Fri 5 Mar 10

"While the majority of parents parked safely on the roadside there were plenty of others pulling up on double yellow lines, not wearing seat belts – and one who managed to drop off their child *without actually stopping at all*."
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WTF ?!
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" Another driver who was issued a £60 fine the day before for not wearing a seat belt, was still not wearing one yesterday.

PC Bob Hoyle said: “It’s beyond belief. He got a warning this time but he could have got £120 in fines in just two days."
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So he got a warning, even though it was the second time he wasn't wearing a seat-belt. What a shambles the police are.
"