Dangerous road safety behaviour putting students at risk

Grandma claims parents’ behaviour could result in kid being seriously injured

A concerned grandmother is calling on parents and caregivers to start using these designated crossings near Brassall State School. Photo: Rob Williams / The Queensland Times

A CONCERNED grandmother believes it is only a matter of time before a child will be seriously injured while jaywalking near Brassall State School.

Michelle Parratt of North Ipswich said she witnessed countless adults escort schoolchildren through peak-hour traffic across Pine Mountain Rd – metres from a designated crossing.

Fencing was installed at the road in recent years to help alleviate the issue after parents called for improvements to the road.

Ms Parratt’s frustrations even prompted a post to social media last week, pleading with residents to think twice about jaywalking.

She said it ”made her sick” to see parents and caregivers not use designated crossings and encourage poor road safety behaviours in younger generations.

RELATED: Parents’ anger as child hit by car on unmarked crossing

North Ipswich grandmother Michelle Parratt worries a student will be seriously injured due to their parent's jaywalking.

“I’ve been driving my grandchildren to and from school for about two years now as my own children work in the morning and afternoons,” she said.

“Every time I come up near where fencing has been erected, I see parents every morning, three or four loads, walking across the median or walking on the road.

READ MORE: New project for Goodna cop who was ‘left to die’

READ MORE: Sisters accused of attack on love rival’s dad

“They either walk the children across [the road] and then walk back over, or stand there and tell the kids to run when there’s no cars.”

She said parents needed to accept responsibility for the lessons they were teaching children.

“I just shake my head; the fencing was erected there because children have been hit by vehicles before,” Ms Parratt said.

“It just makes me think, if one of their children gets hit by a car, they could very likely be dead, the parents will be traumatised as will the driver.”

The only time parents reportedly avoided jaywalking was if police were patrolling the area.

The concerned grandmother claims adults and students are not using the designated crossings pictured here. Photo: Rob Williams / The Queensland Times

“They’re teaching their children bad habits that they will take with them as they grow up,” she said.

“(The children) are going to think it’s okay to do because their parents are allowing them to.”

Ms Parratt said she planned to approach Brassall State School officials in coming weeks to discuss solutions to the issue.

Karana Downs Station Officer in Charge senior sergeant Lee Fortune confirmed on Tuesday that he was not aware of such concerns being raised to police.

‘Road safety is an important issue and I encourage the community to report any issues so that we are aware and can respond,” he said.

GET THE MOST OUT OF YOUR DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTION

If you’re reading this that means you’re already a subscriber to the QT, but it also means you get FREE and UNLIMITED access to The Courier-Mail for the latest national, state, Rugby League, AFL and entertainment news plus more.

If you haven’t already – activate your complimentary subscription to The Courier-Mail by clicking here.

Originally published as