Parking Buddies to help improve road safety around schools

The Police Innovation Fund enables officers, staff and volunteers from Cheshire Constabulary to apply for funding from the Police and Crime Commissioner. Parking Buddies, a successful project from the fund, aims to remind motorists to be considerate when passing, picking up or dropping off outside the school gates.

The Parking Buddies are pop up, cut-out road safety signs which provides a polite notice to road users to park and drive considerately in the area, particularly at peak school traffic times such as early morning drop off or afternoon collection.

The parking buddies are placed outside the schools, and as well as sending a message to motorists, also spark conversations with passing parents and students surrounding road safety.

Police and Crime Commissioner for Cheshire, John Dwyer said:

“It was great to see the Parking Buddies in action at one the primary schools, their presence alongside local PCSOs, truly seemed to have an impact on passing motorists.

“It is such a simple concept, but these can often make the biggest difference. The use of the buddies is a crucial reminder to consider the safety of children travelling to and from school.”

Police Community Support Officer Spike Elliott, said:

“The Parking Buddies act as a reminder of how vulnerable young children can be during their journey to school. Each buddy holds up a lollipop sign displaying a key message such as ‘watch your speed’ or ‘think before you park’, they have had a positive impact so far and I hope they will continue to encourage motorists to be more responsible.

“Children and parents should feel safe on their way to school, any project that reduces the number of incidents or near misses around schools is very much welcome.”

John Dwyer added:

“Making Cheshire’s roads safer is a priority in my Police and Crime Plan, I am delighted to have been able to support this project through my Police Innovation Fund and I am confident that the Parking Buddies being used around schools in Cheshire will contribute to this.

“I would like to thank all of the officers involved for their dedication to keeping Cheshire’s residents safe, their innovation and commitment should be highly commended.”

For more information on the Police Innovation Fund, or to read about other projects that it is supporting visit the Community Funding page.