Tylorstown pupils have literally laid down the law to inconsiderate motorists who put young lives at risk by parking on double yellow and zig-zag lines outside schools.
Those who attend Tylorstown Primary School decided to lie down on the warning lines that are outside their school to send the harsh warning to drivers.
Illegal and inconsiderate parking continues to be a priority issue for the Rhondda Cynon Taf Community Safety Partnership, with scores of schools concerned about the danger pupils are put in by the parking situations.
Often, young residents are attempting to cross the road to get to and from classes when there are lines of cars parked on both sides of the road, including on the zig-zag and double yellow lines that have been painted there specifically to keep cars off!
The frustrating point is that many drivers feel it is ok to park on the lines, just for a minute, while they drop-off or collect a pupil.
Schools, working with the Community Safety Partnership, are determined to get the message out that it is not ok at all – not even for a minute.
Tylorstown Primary School has recently appointed a team of Junior Road Safety Officers (JRSOs) who work with local PCSO Rebecca Evans and the Rhondda Cynon Taf Council Road Safety Unit to raise awareness of such issues in the school and among the wider community.
The pupils, who act as mini road safety campaigners for the rest of the school, were key to the recent photocall and will also be working on operations outside the school, where parents and other motorists will be spoken to about their parking habits – with enforcement notices and fixed penalties issued if the situation does not improve.
Paul Cannon, Chair of the Community Safety Partnership, said: “This is an issue that has been going on for far too long and we are so pleased to have the support of the children as we continue our campaign against it.
“The simple fact of the matter is that double yellow and zig-zag lines are there for a reason and it is never ok to park on them – not even for a minute.
“We have to create and protect safe environments in which our young residents can make their way to and from classes and will not accept situations where they are trying to cross the road with limited visibility and congested conditions.”
