Kids shouldn't have to beg for safer streets

Prendergast Ladywell School in Lewisham, London, was first promised a pedestrian crossing in 2012. They're still waiting. And that's despite three children having been hit by cars on the road outside their school gates.

Over the years, frustrated parents have been been told by council officials that a safe crossing would reduce parking provision and increase danger as 'more people get run over on zebra crossings'!

For our part, we were happy to help the school's campaign for a safe crossing by installing our pop-up zebra.

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Kids shouldn't have to beg for safe road crossings

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Children make up the largest user group of child casualties. They are particularly at risk when travelling to and from school. Around 80 per cent of all road harm to children occurs on a school day between the hours of 7.30am and 9am or 3pm and 5pm.

What is a pop-up zebra crossing?

When we were approached 10 years ago by a school whose request for a zebra crossing at a road traffic collision black spot outside their gates had been turned down on grounds of cost, we went about building one ourselves as cheaply as possible.

The result was a pop-up zebra crossing that could be erected in less than two minutes. And with no need to consider drainage, the excavation of existing pavement, disposal of material, new kerbs and paving, anti-skid surfacing, road markings, traffic signs, electrical connections and pillars, the total cost came to £50 – considerably less than the £114,000 quoted by the Highways Agency.

Faced with coverage of the campaign in the Sunday Times, Daily Mail, Evening Standard and Metro newspapers and on numerous radio stations, the local authority quickly installed the much-needed real zebra crossing.

If you are facing a similar challenge trying to get a zebra crossing, please get in touch.

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