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Fromme parents hope to make school safer

lronically, parents a major part of the problem

THE FROMME Parent Group Traffic Safety Committee has been con- versing a great deal with Nerth Vancouver District during the present schcol year.

In fact, for at least a decade the committee has been requesting of the district small but important changes to the area in and around Fromme elementary school, Argyle secondary school and Cedars pre- school.

In general, the committee is requesting more potent regulations regarding illegal parking, unneces-

sary speed and a lack of due care and attention by pedestrians and drivers using Fromme Road, Frederick Road, Croft Road and Hendecourt Road in Lynn Valley.

Ironically, the largest group of offenders are the parents of stu- dents attending these schools, closely followed by wily teen dri- vers tearing around Argyle sec- ondary. .

Since it is becoming obvious that many drivers choose to ignore such obvious signs as “No Stopping 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.”, “No Parking (anytime)” and the distinct white lines of a marked crosswalk, the committee has requested additional signs and road markings. However redundant new signage would be, it

pears some drivers need to be hit over the head with a figurative 2X4.

The committee has also request- ed new signs regulating speed and passing.

I recent! iy ‘spent a Friday after- noon in this neighborhood to « observe just how warranted these requests are. Sure enough, many

nts were ing their cars ille- gally to fetch and load their chil- dren. At one point, as if on cue, one

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tad darted across the street after making a weak attempt at checking for cars. Since he could not see through a large, and illegally parked, truck he assumed all was clear; it wasn't. Fortunately, the approaching driver noticed the boy in pienty of time.

More perplexing than the dan- gerous laziness of some parents that are choosing to disregard pask- ing regulations — thereby reducing the visibility of all involved — is the way these same parents are teaching their children to cross the street.

One Dad, apparently in a bit of a hurry, walked his son up the mid- dle of the road end helped him into the back seat of his illegally parked

car on the driver’s side!

Now, I’ve never raised a kid, but YT have been one and recat] how easy it was to pick up bad habits, walking down the middle of the road net being one of them (in fact, I secretly believe that my mother followed me to school in order to ensure that I crossed streets safely until | was 17-years-old).

On the other hand, ! also wit- nessed a young woman — wi, I understand, works at a nearby day- care — instruct her charges (three or four at a time) clearly and suc- cinctly to “hold hands, stay close, stop, look both ways and cross quickiy but not in a panic”. Bravo!

Norm Nikkel, of the district's traffic department, told me that the committee’s concerns were being addressed presently and that a council meeting with parents fast week proved to be fruitful (the tesults of that meetizig will be dis- cussed in next week’s column).

In the meantime, Nikkel has sent a copy of the very popular “Parent Parking Patrol Program” to the Fromme Parent Group Traffic Safety Committee stating: “There are many benefits of getting parents involved to monitor their own unsafe and illegal action and simi- lar actions by some other drivers and students.”

He’s right, of course. Get involved. Be safe.

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