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Let's put the brakes on danger drivers
THE Mail has launched a campaign in a bid to bring a halt to the motor menaces who ignore lollipop crossing patrols and put the lives of children at risk.
Hartlepool Borough Council traffic experts highlighted the issue after an increase in the number of drivers ignoring the patrollers.
They have pinpointed several hotspots around the town, and enlisted the help of police earlier this year after their "patience ran out".
Now the Mail have joined the fight and you can help by putting our Stop For The Pop poster in your window in a bid to force drivers to slow down.
The Mail went out to the visit crossings in the town's Elwick Road, Stratford Road and Park Road to see first-hand how motorists are breaking the law – and witnessed some shocking scenes.
One crossing patroller told how motorists regularly drive past using mobile phones, while another spoke of a motorist who raced past as she was about to step out – and even had the cheek to beep the horn.
Ordeal as car sped through crossing
David Oates, school crossing patrol supervisor for the council, said the worst crossing in Hartlepool for drive-throughs is in Stratford Road at the junction of Stockton Road, near St Cuthbert's Primary School.
Thirteen incidents have been reported there in the last three years, while the town-wide figure stands at about 52 for the same period.
In total, 90 children have been injured on Hartlepool's roads in the last three years.
In 2007, 13 were seriously injured and 57 slightly injured.
'Some are on mobiles and just look and grin' - click here
Measures have been taken around schools to reduce speed limits, and schemes such as walking buses with adults supervising at the front and back, but despite this, motorists are still putting lives at risk.
Mr Oates said: "It's certainly increased in the last two years. I think it's just driver behaviour.
"Mornings tend to be worse than afternoons because people are rushing to work, and none of us like being stopped.
"Obviously our patrollers are out there in all sorts of weather conditions and they are there to do a service to the community, and very often if they are standing in the road and patrolling a crossing and you get cars and lorries driving through it puts them in danger and pedestrians in danger.
"They are there to do a job, and would like a bit of respect.
"We are thankful for support from police and the vast majority of drivers who do stop for patrollers. "Obviously the campaign is to make drivers aware of drive-throughs and make sure they obey the signs and make sure they do stop for patrollers.
"The threat of police action will make them more aware."
The Mail will be making an effort to raise the profile of the campaign over the coming weeks.
Our campaign has already gained backing from leading road safety charity Brake.
A spokeswoman for Brake said: "Brake fully supports this campaign to urge drivers to obey school crossing patrols.
"School crossing patrols are there to ensure that children have a safe place to cross roads on their way to school and to ignore them puts children at great risk.
"Brake urges all drivers to make sure they always slow right down around schools – it may just save a child's life". Acting Inspector Gary Hatton, head of Cleveland Police's Road Policing Department, said: "The lollipop is a legal sign, and drivers must stop when it is displayed. It is a serious offence punishable by a fine, three penalty points on your licence and a summons to court.
"More importantly, the lollipop is to ensure the safety of young children crossing the road to and from school."
People can find their nearest patrol by logging onto our website at hartlepoolmail.co.uk where they can find advice, the stories of the lollipop patrollers and can download our poster.
We urge people to put to poster in their window to show their support.
Together we can bring an end to menace motors.
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Weather for Hartlepool
Monday 13 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 3 C to 9 C
Wind Speed: 21 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
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Temperature: 5 C to 9 C
Wind Speed: 21 mph
Wind direction: North west
