Not so much an ode as a short post about how much I miss them…without all the poetry.
It’s Road Safety week this month (18-24 Nov) and it’s got me thinking about Lollipop ladies (and men).
You see, since councils across the country have cut funding to this particular service, many of the much loved Lollipop men and women have lost their jobs. Where as previously you may have seen two or three on your daily commute, the number of Lollipop people has fallen by almost a quarter in the last few years. Unsurprisingly, our roads – especially those around schools – have become more dangerous.
What can we do about it?
Short of donning a high visibility jacket or lollipop sign, or buying a few speed bumps from Barriers Direct to throw down in front of your child’s school (is this even legal?), we are at the mercy of drivers to cut their speed and drive responsibly. The problem is, it’s been my experience that this is not a fail-safe plan. Drivers are a mixed bag of those who care and those who really shouldn’t even be on the road.
The only thing we can do is to educate our children to be road safety aware.
The Green Cross Code is a good place to start. If you are new to road safety or you need a reminder here is what you can tell your kiddies, family and friends. Just a reminder to stay safe on these streets peeps:
Find a safe place to cross.
Stop just before you get to the kerb.
Look all around for traffic and listen.
If traffic is coming, let it pass.
When it is safe, go straight across the road – do not run.
Let us know if you have any tips on how to keep our roads safe for pedestrians.