School crossing patrollers
Inverclyde Council provides around 35 School Crossing Patrollers at sites in and around our 20 Primary Schools.
Basis of the service
Community Safety carries out the day to day management of the service. The School Crossing Patrol service is based on the concept of part-time employees undertaking the duty of seeing children safely across the road at specific sites on their journey to and from school. The patrols normally operate over two patrol periods per day during the school term.
Parental responsibility
Whilst every effort is made to staff each site during the school term, cover cannot be guaranteed as sites can become vacant, often at very short notice. It should be noted that, even where a school crossing patrol is provided, parents remain responsible for ensuring their child's safety on their whole journey to and from school.
Pedestrians
A School Crossing Patroller can assist anyone who wants to cross the road but they are predominately provided to assist school children.
When crossing with a School Crossing Patroller you should:
- Stand behind the kerb
- Listen carefully to their instructions
- Cross only when the Patroller is in the middle of the road with their sign displayed, and traffic has stopped AND the Patroller has told you it is safe
- Walk smartly to the opposite pavement but don't run
- The Patroller will not move away from the centre of the road until you are safely on the opposite footway
Drivers
- Watch out for School Crossing Patrollers on routes to schools, there will usually be signs warning you of their presence and often flashing amber lights too
- Remember the School Crossing Sign is a legal road sign and therefore must be obeyed; you MUST stop to let pedestrians cross
- Please be courteous and do not stop too close to the School Crossing Patroller and only move off again once the Patroller has returned to the footway
Legal powers
It is an offence under the Road Traffic Regulations Act 1984, for a driver to fail to stop for a patroller wearing the official uniform and displaying the patrol stop sign. It is also an offence for a driver to move off whilst the patroller is still on the road.
The school crossing patrols were given extended powers by the Transport (Scotland) Act 2001, meaning that patrollers can now stop traffic to help adults cross the road, as well as children going to and from school.
Interested in becoming a School Crossing Patrol Officer?
School Crossing Patrol Officers do a valuable and rewarding job assisting children and adults to cross the road safely on their way to and from schools in Inverclyde. Sessional School Crossing Patrol Officers are required to cover for permanent patrollers in all areas of Inverclyde from Kilmacolm to Wemyss Bay. If you or anyone you know might be interested in working as a School Crossing Patrol Officer then please contact the Community Safety team at the details on this page.