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Principals’ dangerous driving warning

Frustrated principals have condemned the “very dangerous” driving tactics outside schools, with some even warning students not to walk to school alone as parents’ driving gets worse.

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Young students are being told not to walk to school alone due to dangerous driving by time-poor parents at a number of Melbourne primary schools.

With the return of the school term this week, principals are more concerned than ever about parents “eager to do pick up and drop off as fast as they can,” according to McKinnon Primary School principal Simone Eirth.

Ms Eirth said parents were “really busy, they want to get the job done and sometimes it’s at the expense of our children”.

Parents at McKinnon have been warned to stop their “very dangerous” road practices.
Parents at McKinnon have been warned to stop their “very dangerous” road practices.

At McKinnon Primary, parents are reminded about the “very dangerous” parking and driving practices of some individuals.

“It appears some parents/carers think it is okay to park in the middle of the road, stopping traffic in both directions and letting their children run through parked cars to get to their car,” the newsletter says.

Parents are urged to dob cars doing this into the Glen Eira council.

Kerri McLeod, principal of Ormond Primary School, told parents that due to traffic congestion and students not using crossing signals, pupils “in younger grade levels are advised not to travel to school on their own”.

At Moolap Primary parents were also recently told to walk younger children in and out of the school grounds.

As the Herald Sun reported this week, East Bentleigh Primary School principal Maria Shearn warned parents she had photographic evidence of parents breaking road rules around the school and would speak to the individuals involved.

East Bentleigh school council member, Ofer Fridberg, even put up a rope barrier to stop parents from parking near the school after one child was hit.

“Parents were sneaking in and reversing back out and we had an incident where a child was bumped, although not seriously,” he said.

“The council and principal are doing everything they can, but parents want to drop off kids — it’s another chore and off they go,” he said.

At Mount View Primary School in nearby Glen Waverley parents are warned about the “erratic driving” and “increasingly dangerous driving practices” of parents.

“We know the start and end of the school day can be hectic for parents and finding parking can be a challenge, but it has become apparent that the community is no longer prepared to tolerate unsafe and illegal traffic behaviour,” a notice to parents says.

“We have observed cars in no standing zones, double parked or parked on the nature strip and are amazed to see vehicles blocking the school crossing zone,” the newsletter said.

MORE:

PARENTS TOLD OFF ON ‘DANGEROUS’ DROP-OFF TACTICS

KIDS ‘VERBALLY HARASSED’ WALKING TO SCHOOL

SCHOOLS CRACKDOWN ON FOOTY CARDS

Glen Eira Council director of planning and place Ron Torres said “an inconsiderate few park unsafely and place other road users, young cyclists and pedestrians at risk”.

“Our school communities regularly reach out to Council to enforce parking safety around schools,” he said.

More than 250 casualty crashes occur around Victorian schools each year.

susan.obrien@news.com.au

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Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/principals-dangerous-driving-warning/news-story/73c083e5d91bc3df8d644882bdf735c3