Lollipop crossings are not to be ignored

Lollipop patroller’s in the Rochdale borough have a message for drivers who refuse to stop – “ignore us and be fined!”

The Impact Partnership manage the lollipop patrollers on behalf of Rochdale Borough Council and has a smart new way of catching drivers who are speeding through lollipop crossings, putting pedestrians in danger.

The council has been receiving an increase in the number of complaints from residents and schools across the borough about this seriously dangerous problem. In response, the council hopes a newly furbished smart car fitted with a camera will help them catch the offenders.

The vehicle is fitted with a video camera that will record those drivers who fail to stop when the lollipop patroller steps out into the road so that the footage can be used as evidence to punish dangerous drivers. If caught, drivers could face a £1000, 3 points on their licence and even prosecution.

Tammy Grey, Impact’s School Crossing Patrol Supervisor said: “We employ our lollipop patroller’s to make sure families and children are safe getting to school. The number of complaints we’ve received about dangerous drivers has increased so much that we hope the smart car surveillance will not only help catch offenders but deter others.”

Councillor Ted Flynn, cabinet member for Community Safety at Rochdale Borough Council, said: “It’s simply unacceptable for rushing drivers to be putting lives at risk in this way by refusing to stop at lollipop crossings. I’m glad that we’re taking action to punish inpatient drivers. A large number of drivers may not realise that a lollipop stop sign carries the same meaning as a red traffic light. Perhaps now more drivers will think twice before they ignore Highway Code.”

The smart car surveillance vehicle will be patrolling Heywood, Middleton, Rochdale and Pennines throughout the forthcoming months.