School patrols

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33779, 27 February 1975, Page 16

School patrols

Sir, — What is the situation regarding the use of pedestrian crossings whilst in occupation by a school patrol? I understand all pedestrians have a right to use these crossings at any time. Am I to exercise this right (incidentally going somewhat out of my way) and be subjected to insulting remarks from a rude female (adult) that I am a “bad example” to the children? Or do I have to wait the four to five minutes before she condescends,to raise the barrier, and watch my bus departing without me? Or must I walk a hundred or so yards down the road to cross and so be an even worse example to the children, not to mention risking life and limb in the face of a stream of work traffic. — Yours, etc., BAD EXAMPLE. February 16, 1975. [Mr D. L. Hogan, regional secretary, Ministry of Transport, replies: “Pedestrians are under no legal obligation to obey the school patrols but

the Ministry hopes that they will do so whenever possible as a good example to children. It would probably have been better and safer for your correspondent to have crossed the road 60 feet or more from the crossing. Motorists who see children being held back on the footpath by a school patrol can hardly be expected to anticipate that an adult might go round or through the patrol and use the crossing.]