Police conduct week of road safety round local schools

Councillor Danny Meredith at St Mary’s School in Littleborough

Greater Manchester Police have conducted a week of road safety and parking around schools in the Rochdale and Bolton areas.

Officers from GMP's Specialist Operations Road Policing team and local officers attended select schools at busy times in the morning and afternoon to monitor driving and advise on road safety to both children and parents alike as the increase in traffic can cause congestion and potentially dangerous situations around the schools.

Police hope the approach will have a positive impact on road safety around the school environment, from engaging with school children walking to school and supporting the school crossing patrol, to enforcing speed limits, seat belts and dangerous parking.

GMP's Neighbourhood Roads Policing Manager Peter Bird said: "We are completing this week of action, along with the councils and others, to support the schools in ensuring the pupils can enter and exit the school safely.

"We all feel the rush of school times and can sometimes lose sight of the dangers around us. We hope that from this week of action, pupils and parents will be more mindful of their surroundings and be more aware of road safety."

Councillor Danny Meredith, cabinet member for highways at Rochdale Borough Council, said: "It’s great to see the police and council joining forces to tackle this issue, which is always a high priority for our residents.

“With children returning to school after the summer break, now is a great time to instil good road safety habits among pupils and remind drivers of their responsibilities, particularly around schools.

“I’m sure this combination of education and enforcement will have a positive effect and we’re looking forward to working with GMP on more operations like this in the future.”

Similar operations are planned for other areas of Greater Manchester to highlighting the importance of taking extra care around vulnerable road users.