Clampdown on poor parking at Plymouth schools
PLYMOUTH City Council is launching a new road safety campaign to put a stop to 'dangerous and inconsiderate' parking.
The council's road safety camera car will be used to tackle illegal parking in school Keep Clear zones and pedestrian crossing zigzags over the next few days, said bosses.
It will also, they said, assist in reducing congestion through the enforcement of bus lanes — and it will help to keep bus stops clear.
The campaign is about to be launched.
A camera fixed on top of the road safety car will clearly mark it as a surveillance vehicle, said a spokesman.
He added: "The computer system has a map loaded with parking enforcement areas for the Plymouth road network.
"This automatically records cars parked illegally and issues penalty charge notices with fines of up to £70 which will be sent through the post."
Assistant director for transport Clive Perkin said: "This car will be highly visible and will be used in a range of initiatives to act as a deterrent to those parking with no regard for other road users and pedestrians.
"There have been accidents involving children outside schools so the car will first be used to raise awareness of the dangers in these areas as part of our commitment to improving road safety."
The council spokesman said that the road safety camera car will take to the streets over the next few days.
For the first two weeks it will be used to raise awareness of parking enforcement at schools "known to have problems".
Schools are being sent letters and Police Community Support Officers will be outside them handing out leaflets about the car and the road safety campaign.
The spokesman said: "During this period warning notices will be issued rather than actual fines.
"They will be sent to motorists advising that they have been caught on camera failing to comply with a parking or traffic regulation which would normally have resulted in a £70 fine.
"This system is now widely used across the country."
28 Comments
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by Steve, Oz
Thursday, September 02 2010, 8:25PM
“Weston Mill school is the place to be for the last minute dot com parents. Mostly women. Park on the pavement, park on the zig zags.
Obstructing children crossing putting there young lives at risk.
When you ask them they could cause a child to be killed by there inconsiderate dangerous parking.
They just give swear at you and say as long as there kids alright who cares.
Fine lazy women , especially the fat ones”
by ex Plymouth girl, US
Thursday, September 02 2010, 6:26PM
“makes you yearn for the days when most households did not have one let alone two cars, parking was not a problem and the kids walked themselves to school - in my case Manadon Vale Primary School”
by Spencer., Plymstock
Thursday, September 02 2010, 6:11PM
“Absolutely Pathetic. NO, not the parents PLYMOUTH City Council. Warning notices! Book people from the START. In Spencer Road Plymstock yellow lines were put in recently due to extremely dangerous parking on a blind corner. Parents therefore park half on the pavement (!) and half on the road straddling the yellow lines now. If it's raining they do this on both sides. Emergency vehicles, forget it. You could only get a small car though and sometimes not that. We ALL are responsible for ensuring safety of others. What beggars belief is that it could be their child who is knocked down because of THEIR parking. They'd be the first to take legal action against some unfortuante driver.
So the answer is enforce the full fine right from the start, and continue doing so. And I assume ANY member of the public can send a photo of illegal parking with the registration number and the council will take action? How am I qualified to comment? I have had kids and know the pressures working/ leaving early to pick them up; but parked 1/2 a mile away where it was safe and considerate. I witnessed a child running out between parked cars and was almost hit by a van in Spencer Road. Luckily it stopped in time. I knocked down a child in Pomphlett, who shot out on her brothers too big bike from a between parked cars (she could not brake!) Luckily I was only pulling away after a car turned off. My car was damaged by the bike (which was fine). She only had a graze and lived to learn a lesson. I have never forgotton what could have happened. Another child around a school may not be so lucky as we all rush around and park wherever!”
by Dan, Plympton
Thursday, September 02 2010, 6:06PM
“I am conviced I have the answer to deal with this, so here goes.
Paint double yellows in all the places you don't want people parked. Then enforce this will traffic wardens issuing parking fines.
Surely this is the absolutely most obvious and easy way to deal with awkward parking.”
by Richard, Plymouth
Thursday, September 02 2010, 5:32PM
“Why not extend this clamp down to the whole of Plymouth. Dangerous or inconsiderate parking is rife just about everywhere in the city and especially on the estates. Driving round any estate can be hazardous with cars, vans and lorries parked on bends and junctions and even on pavements.”