Lolly pop man and the rules

[Dom Tuk]

Do you have to stop when a lollypop man decides to stop the traffic to allow an adult to cross the road. I can understand children, but what are the rules governing lollypop men who decide to stop traffic to allow parents to cross. It is so bloody annoying.

[gammaray]

technically yes you do. They are like human traffic signals.

if you drive at them or keep going once they have stepped into the road you can be done for dangerous driving.

[Fat Boy]

I know what you mean DT - inconsiderate parents actually insisting on walking their children to school. Doesn't anyone have any consideration for drivers any more?!!!

They should be forced to drive them to school in 4x4s.

Selfish b@stards!

[lankeela]

No you don't have to stop, but there are no extra points gained unless they have reached the side of the road when you hit them.

[kick3m0n]

pmsl lankeela!!! x

[nickmo]

Bit of info here: http://www.bathnes.gov.uk/BathNES/transportandroads/roadsafety/schoolsandschoolcrossingpatrols/SchoolCrossingPatrols.htm and most Councils will tell you that:

School crossing patrols are legally empowered to stop vehicles for children and adults. The penalties for failing to stop for a crossing patrol are:

A fine of up to �1,000
A minimum of three penalty points
Possible disqualification

The SCP is 'employed' (a lot of Councils in fact use volunteers to do the job) by the Council with powers to stop traffic given to them by the Council, not by the Police, but failure to stop when indicated to do so is an offence...you should stop anyway, kids crossing are a little bit more important are they not, than 15 seconds on a journey....

[Dom Tuk]

Nickmo...thanks for that. I will always stop for a child crossing the road and will always stop when the lollypop man stops the road irrespective of who he is helping to cross. I was asking about those SCPs who help grown ups to cross the road and enquired if it is in their job description to aid the crossing of grown ups who have dropped off their children and are on their way home. Surely they know how to cross the road when there is a break in traffic and surely they dont need the help of the lollypop man. But your link clears the doubt.

[nickmo]

Hi DT - I am sure the crowd mentality kicks in. If there is an option to carry out a task without the bother of having to think, people will take that option. Proven everytime, whatever the task.

If the SCP is happy to assist a 'normal' adult, they are probably just being courteous - and a lot of them are unnecessarily nice people anyway to do the job in the first place!!...- but as the SCP is there to assist in crossing, essentially on behalf of the Council, if you squashed a pedestrian being ushered over the road by a SCP I doubt there is any defence that they were proceeding 'without due care and attention' - brilliant defence/accusation phrase. Covers a lot of actions...

I gather the schools have to apply for a manned SCP - it isn't automatically used, and it involves a load of surveys and proven traffic flow and volume reports, etc before they make little old men and women stand in the rain at all hours for nothing, helping with the crossings.

Those SCPs who get recognised with awards or commendations deserve it without exception, I reckon.

[lankeela]

Either that or they just like p*ssing off the drivers.

[heathfield]

And the black bar on the lollipop is for them to write down your registration number, (using a wax crayon that they carry), if you do fail to stop.

[lankeela]

The yellow line round their hats mean you can't park on them.

[THECORBYLOON]

In January 2001, the law changed and gave school crossing patrols the power to help anyone across the road, not just children. On ma way to work in the mornings I drive through a wee village where the lollipop woman stands at the Pelican Crossing pushes the button to stop the traffic and then walks out. I'd be interested to know if she gets paid, since the traffic has to stop no matter who pushes the button.....

[landie]

The four things you must obey when signalled to stop are,

Policemen

Traffic Wardens

Crossing Patrols (Lollipop)

Traffic Lights.

This is apart from stop lines on the road which are more of a permanent signal.