Officers have gone back to school in Bolton and Rochdale to encourage greater road safety

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) have conducted a week long action on road safety and parking around schools in the Bolton and Rochdale area.

We are supporting the national vulnerable road users campaign and assisting schools with the increase in traffic during the drop off and pick up times, which can cause congestion and potentially dangerous situations around the schools.

The week of action in Bolton and Rochdale saw officers from GMP's Specialist Operations Road Policing team and local officers attending selected schools in the morning and afternoon at these busy times to monitor the driving and advise on road safety to children and parents alike.

This is a multi-agency approach with Bolton and Rochdale Council, Highways & Engineering and Civil Enforcement Officers also taking part to support the events and offer their advice and expertise.

The aim is to have a positive impact on road safety around the school environment, which could be anything from engaging with school children walking to school and supporting the school crossing patrol, to enforcing speed limits, seat belts and dangerous parking.

GMP's Neighbourhood Roads Policing Manager Peter Bird said: "We are completing this week of action, along with the Councils and others, to support the schools in ensuring the pupils can enter and exit the school safely.

"We all feel the rush of school times and can sometimes lose sight of the dangers around us. We hope that from this week of action, pupils and parents will be more mindful of their surroundings and be more aware of road safety."

Bolton Council’s Executive Cabinet Member for Highways Cllr Stuart Haslam said: “It’s important that at the start of a new school year we remind parents and pupils of the dangers during the busy pick up and drop off times. Our priority is the safety of children and motorists need to be extra vigilant whilst driving near schools. We are also using this week of action to remind parents of dangerous parking and not to park on the yellow zigzag road markings outside schools.”

Councillor Danny Meredith, cabinet member for highways at Rochdale Borough Council, said: "It’s great to see the police and council joining forces to tackle this issue, which is always a high priority for our residents. With children returning to school after the summer break, now is a great time to instil good road safety habits among pupils and remind drivers of their responsibilities, particularly around schools. I’m sure this combination of education and enforcement will have a positive effect and we’re looking forward to working with GMP on more operations like this in the future.”

The week of action enabled great engagement, with officers being able to educate and evaluated any risks identified. Similar operations are planned for other areas of Greater Manchester to highlighting the importance of taking extra care around vulnerable road users.