For motorists the following points are important to remember:
* Do not stop and park across the red and yellow demarcated areas outside school gates.
* Do not obstruct the scholar patrol’s view of oncoming traffic thereby endangering the lives of pedestrians.
* When scholar patrol team members record the registration numbers and politely ask the parents to move their vehicles, accept these instructions.
* Do not abuse scholar patrol members by shouting at them or making rude gestures
Even though the scholar patrol might appear to be a nuisance for motorists, they play an important part of road safety.
Not only does the scholar patrol regulate traffic and facilitate safe crossing, but they also promote awareness of the importance of road safety in the minds of young pedestrians.
The Safety Patrol Program was started by the American Automobile Association (AAA) in 1920. Boys, when they reached the sixth grade, would be screened for the proper character traits and then trained in safety.
Why do we need scholar patrol?
Each year, children travel to and from school almost 200 times. Dangerous traffic congestion occurs around schools, with many parents dropping their children off in the morning and picking them up after school.
Traffic authorities, school teachers and principals recognise that this congestion creates the most dangerous location on a child’s journey to and from school.
Scholar patrol teams perform a very important and responsible public service by controlling traffic and by safeguarding young learners.
To benefit from scholar patrols and to enhance their effectiveness, motorists need to show responsible behaviour as well.
* Information on scholar patrols has been made available by the Road Traffic Management Corporation, as posted on the Arrive Alive website.
