Red-painted crossing

[Arese]

Hello

On my daily commute to work I pass two schools, and as I pass at around 8:40 it's usually quite busy with brats and their 'parents'.

Now, across quite a busy road is a red painted area. There are no other markings, no signs, no traffic lights, just this red painted area. Worryingly, the parents and moreso the kids think this area gives them the right to just step out into the traffic. Obviously I approach it with care, but over the last month I've had to brake heavily on two occasions when a child has stepped out. Obviously this results in me being stared at by the 'parent' and branded a speeding motorist.

I've never seen this kind of 'crossing' before. Anyone else? It seems to me like the school have maybe painted it themselves. I think it's very dangerous though as most drivers (including me) just ignore it.

Google Maps Link

Interested in any thoughts, as I've considered writing to the school or local council.

[Arese]

Jayho said:

Try looking at local newspapers or newsletters ect, see if there's been a issue before and what the sign actually means. saves you contacting the other people. If its something to aid the school children ect, is there no other by route you can take?

I have a few friends with kids that live near there, and use that school, so I'll ask them next time I see them. In my opinion, it actually makes the road more dangerous by making pedestrians think they can just cross willy-nilly. Ideally, they need a proper controlled crossing there, but I suspect because of it's position close to two junctions they wouldn't be allowed.

There is another route, but it would take me up to another ten minutes to get to work.

[Arese]

Spot on Streaky, that is my concern.

I can only assume that the school have painted this on the road.

[Arese]

covboy said:

Arese said:

Spot on Streaky, that is my concern.

I can only assume that the school have painted this on the road.

Don't they have proper Art Classes these days ?

Have you seen the price of canvas?

[Arese]

oldsoak said:

Arese said:

Spot on Streaky, that is my concern.

I can only assume that the school have painted this on the road.

It is a coloured road surface...a very expensive coloured road surface and it will have been laid by the local authority/council ...it is those idiots you want to be writing to not the school.

Ok cheers oldsoak, and everyone else.

I've got email addresses for the council and police, so I'll email them both. I think we all know how powerful a strongly worded email can be.

[Arese]

Right, I've just emailed the council. Let's see what doesn't happen.

oldsoak said:

Be a lot better if you got a hold of your local councillor (preferably in a vice like grip around the scrotum) and explained your misgivings to him about these patches of coloured road surfaces lulling pedestrians into a false sense of security.
They take more notice when they have something to lose if they don't...

This isn't actually my local Parish, so I imagine he wouldn't listen to me?

Edited by Arese on Tuesday 25th May 16:28

[Arese]

oldsoak said:

Arese said:

Right, I've just emailed the council. Let's see what doesn't happen.

oldsoak said:

Be a lot better if you got a hold of your local councillor (preferably in a vice like grip around the scrotum) and explained your misgivings to him about these patches of coloured road surfaces lulling pedestrians into a false sense of security.
They take more notice when they have something to lose if they don't...

This isn't actually my local Parish, so I imagine he wouldn't listen to me?

Edited by Arese on Tuesday 25th May 16:28

You'd be surprised who listens to you when you have a handful of their 'nads

[Arese]

herewego said:

No it isn't. It's just some kids going to school and they need some consideration. When they've raised the money there'll be a pelican or whatever and then the OP will have to stop and he'll wish he'd just given them more space so he could get on his way sooner.

If there was a formal crossing there then I would be more than happy to stop. If I stopped now, just because a parent and kid was stood at the road, and they began to cross and got mowed down by a vehicle coming the other way, I'd be partly to blame ,no?

[Arese]

Well I've had a reply to my email from 'Road Safety Cheshire East':

Road Safety Cheshire East said:

Hello

Thank you for your message.

I will have a word with the police community support officers who cover this area and suggest that we do some education in the surrounding schools warning the children about the fact that the red area isn't a designated safer crossing place.

Not sure that will work.

[Arese]

For around a mile before this area, there are speed bumps and chicane-type arrangements (which do nothing but cause traffic to back up).