‘Action has to be taken before a child is fatally injured’ – Gardai
By Aideen O'Flaherty
GARDAI have warned that they will be issuing fines to people who are parking and dropping their children off at schools in Saggart in a manner that obstructs pedestrians or motorists, as they feel that “action has to be taken before a child is seriously or fatally injured”.
A notice was issued to St Mary’s National School Saggart’s Parents’ Association by Rathcoole Garda Station on Thursday, following a public garda meeting that was held on Wednesday, March 6, where Saggart residents voiced their concerns about children and road users during school drop-off times.
Traffic congestion has occured outside St Mary's National School.
In the notice, it was stated that gardai from Rathcoole Garda Station had carried out observations in relation to the parking of cars and children being dropped off outside local schools, and that “any car causinganobstruction to the movement of pedestrians or other traffic will be issued with an on-the-spot fine.”
The gardai further added that it is an offence to disobey the signals of a school crossing warden, and if their signals are disobeyed it will result in an €80 fine and two penalty points.
Amanda Crone, chairperson of the Saggart Village Residents’ Association, told The Echo: “I’m aware of the congestion and chaos that is in front of the school when I’m driving into work.”
Ms Crone said that issues with congestion outside of local schools have been going on for over a year, and that gardai are planning to put cones in place to deter motorists from obstructing other road users and pedestrians.
The gardai highlighted in their notice that it is an offence to park on double yellow lines, to park partially or wholly on a footpath, to park within 15 feet of a junction or to park at a bus stop.
They stated that it is also an offence to park in a way that obstructs other traffic or that obstructs local residents from entering or exiting their properties, or parking inside or on zig-zag yellow lines that are outside of a school.
The gardai advised motorists that although there may not physically be a ticket on their car, “it is now the practice to send fines via post”.
