Wasn’t it great to see the pictures in The Courier last week of happy, smiling children standing proudly in their school uniforms after the longest six weeks in history?
With the Fife schools going back after the summer hiatus, parents, carers and wider family breathed a sigh of relief while teachers across the region probably took a sharp intake of breath before venturing forth into the new school term.
Of course, drivers in the kingdom probably didn’t need telling what day it was as roads and car parks which had been fairly empty at that time of the morning for several weeks suddenly filled up.
One becomes inured to it but that first day mad scramble for parking outside schools should not become acceptable. And sadly it’s not just confined to the first day.
Some schools have worse issues than others, but problem parking which is downright dangerous needs to be properly addressed.
Inconsiderate drivers mounting pavements or parking on zig-zag or double yellow lines just to get that little bit closer to the school gates need to have a word with themselves.
We’ve all seen it happen and, while someone might think ‘It’s only for a minute’, by parking like that then they are creating danger for youngsters.
The creation of school travel plans are brilliant, encouraging people to walk or cycle to school and promote healthier lifestyles.
That ticks most of the boxes in my book and will hopefully cut the number of people who feel the need to park irresponsibly.
There will still be lazy so and so’s causing congestion so the only way to tackle the problem is through enforcement.
Money talks and hitting those who create a hazard in the pocket is the only sure-fire way to stop the practice.
I know from experience that enforcing the laws can be problematic, as drivers tend to drive away if a parking attendant approaches, and I also know that the police don’t have the resources to be at each and every school at opening and closing time.
But that is no excuse not to try because it’s only a matter of time before this unnecessary clamour causes a serious or fatal accident.