Urgent school run warning for parents as car is seized during cop crackdown at drop-off time
Police have vowed to deal with drivers 'robustly'
POLICE have warned school run parents after a car was seized by cops during a crackdown at drop-off time.
Police in Lancashire have now warned parents at schools in the Lytham area over “illegal” and “inconsiderate” driving.
Officers said they had seized seized an uninsured Audi from a man “who believed he could park causing an obstruction.”
Police have now stepped up their presence around Heyhouses Primary and Lytham Hall Primary after teachers and parents raised concerns about the safety of children.
Now the force has said that they will deal with bad drivers “robustly” and warned parents to “expect police action to be a regular occurrence.”
In a statement on Facebook last night, a Fylde Police spokesperson said: “You may have seen a recent police and traffic enforcement officer presence at both Heyhouses Primary and Lytham Hall Primary.
“This is in response to numerous reports from concerned teachers and parents regarding the safety of children.
“Your children are put in danger daily due to illegal, and inconsiderate driving and parking, by a minority of road users.
“We have had a very positive response from most of the parents and children we have encountered, and for that we thank you.
“Our intention is to educate drivers to prevent these behaviours continuing.
“However, we will be dealing with those drivers who continue to put children at risk robustly, so expect police action to be a regular occurrence.
“Today we seized an uninsured car from a male who believed he could park causing an obstruction, and we will continue to prosecute individuals where appropriate.
“We respectfully request going forward, people adhere to the rules which are put in place to keep your children safe.”
The law and rules of the school run
The RAC has provided the following advice to drivers on the school run.
Drivers should drive slowly near schools and never exceed the 30 mph limit.
However drivers should aim to stay below 20mph around schools. Many local authorities have 20mph limits in place around schools.
Drivers should avoid parking outside the school gates and never double park.
Drivers are encouraged to park a short distance from the school to help reduce congestion in the area
Some local authorities have strict rules in place around idling near schools to reduce emissions.
Motorists who are caught idling when pulling up outside schools can be handed a penalty charge notice of £20 -rising to £40 if not paid quickly.
Rhian Oakes was four times the drink-drive limit when she got behind the wheel of her Citroen C1.
Uniformed police officers spotted her black Citroen C1 being driven erratically in St Johns Drive, Winsford, on January 17.
Police pulled her over at around 3.40pm as children were being picked up and noticed she was “confused, smelt of alcohol and was slurring her speech”.
She was breathalysed and gave a reading of 139 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.
Oakes avoided jail after admitting drink-driving and was instead handed a 12-month community order and 36-month driving ban.
She pleaded guilty to drink driving on February 13, and appeared before Chester magistrates for sentencing on March 12.
Sentencing, JP Harold Tonge said: “Obviously, this is going to have an impact, particularly the length of the ban.”
Her lawyer Wendy Shurrock had pleaded: “She is very, very upset with herself.
“I am asking you and your colleagues to follow the recommendations in the pre-sentence report.”