Campaign reminds drivers to ‘Stop for the Lollipop’

Drivers in Staffordshire are being reminded of the importance of stopping for the lollipop in a new road safety campaign.

The campaign, being coordinated by Staffordshire County Council, is reminding drivers that failing to stop for a school crossing patrol wearing the official uniform and displaying the patrol stop sign, is an offence under the Road Traffic Act 1984.  It is also an offence for a driver to move off whilst the patrol is still on the road.

Stop for the lollipop signs are now being rolled out outside selected schools, to help remind drivers of their responsibilities. The following schools are included in the first wave of the campaign:

• Perton Middle School, Perton

• Bridgetown Primary School, Cannock

• St Joseph’s Primary School, Kingsmead High School and St Peter’s Primary School, Hednesford

• St Leonards Primary School, Stafford

• Blythe Bridge High School, Blythe Bridge

• King Edwards High School, Lichfield

• Anglesey Primary School, Burton

• Landau Forte Academy, Tamworth

• Three Peaks Primary School, Tamworth

• Kidsgrove Junior and High School, Kidsgrove

• St Luke’s Primary School, Silverdale

• Maybank Junior School and The Orme Academy, Newcastle

David Williams, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport at Staffordshire County Council said: "Our School Crossing Patrols provide an important service in our communities and our lollipop ladies and gentlemen do a brilliant job in helping to keep children safe.

“Whilst the vast majority of Staffordshire drivers are courteous and do stop for our patrols, sadly we do see incidents where drivers do not stop.  This not only puts children’s lives in danger but it is also a criminal offence.

“The signs have been placed around the county near to schools and patrol sites and we hope that they will raise awareness of the need to stop.  The signs will be moved periodically to different areas during the campaign.”

Staffordshire has over 220 patrols, working outside of schools and busy sections of roads.  They come from all walks of life.  The youngest patrol is 26 and the oldest is 83 and there is no upper age limit for the job.

The campaign also coincides with the 70th anniversary of the School Crossing patrol service, which was created in 1953, with the first official patrol starting the year after. Seventy years on, the service remains paramount to the safety of pedestrians, with roads becoming increasingly busy.

Further information on the service, the campaign  and current vacancies is available on The School Crossing Patrol Service Webpage.