Parents and carers whose poor driving is risking the lives of children during the school run could be invited back to the classroom to learn about road safety.
Following the success of the “Safe Drive Stay Alive” project run in Angus for senior pupils, Police Scotland officers have been asked to run a similar campaign to drive home the road safety message to adults.
Councillor Beth Whiteside, SNP member for Monifieth and Sidlaw, has approached area commander David McIntosh in the hope of running a session highlighting the dangers their driving habits cause around schools.
She said: “The issue of poor driving in the areas around our schools is a very common one, with parents and carers often in a rush, driving too close to the school gates and creating a dangerous environment for our young people as they make their way to and from school.
“I have had several reports of the problem getting worse all at once, so it seems to be an issue across the ward, and no doubt across the county.”
Safety roadshows aimed at cutting deaths and serious injuries are attended by new and young drivers who hear from emergency service experts about their role in the event of a collision.
Families who have been through the trauma of road crashes or lost loved ones have spoken about their experiences during harrowing testimonies.
Councillor Whiteside explained the schools where most incidents of poor driving have been reported were Grange Primary in Monifieth, Liff Primary and Birkhill Primary.
She raised her concerns with Area Commander McIntosh at a meeting of the local authority’s scrutiny and audit committee where he reported the annual Safe Drive Stay Alive Campaign in Forfar last year was “exceptionally well received”.
Councillor Whiteside told him: “I have had a spate of complaints regarding the driving behaviour of parents at different schools in my ward.
“There was a suggestion from a community police officer about a Safe Drive Stay Alive event for parents. Has this ever been considered?”
“It is an excellent way to bring home the dangers of driving to senior pupils, and the officer commented something similar for parents and carers would maybe make them think twice about how they drive while dropping children at school.”
Area Commander McIntosh said it is something he could get his community teams to look in to.
An Angus Council spokesman said: “The safety of our children and young people is paramount and we would urge drivers to slow down, drive according to the conditions and be aware of what is going on around them at all times, particularly around our schools.
“We are supportive of any initiatives that can effectively promote safe driving on our roads and near to our schools.”
