Pick-up parents fined for traffic chaos

A walking school bus from Richmond Road School in Grey Lynn. Photo / Natalie Slade

A campaign to improve safety at the school gate has resulted in nearly 400 parents being fined for parking in a way that impedes traffic flow or poses risks to their children.

Figures released to the Herald reveal 380 tickets were issued to parents parked dangerously or illegally outside schools during term one.

Twenty-six schools were targeted as part of the Auckland City Council's Chaos at the School Gate programme, under which parking wardens visit schools several times each term.

The number of visits to each school varied but in every case wardens found parents parked on yellow lines, in bus stops or places which put children's safety at risk.

Auckland Girls' Grammar parents had the worst average - 10.3 tickets on each visit - while St Joseph's in Onehunga had the best, only 0.5 tickets a visit.

Auckland Girls' deputy principal of curriculum Megan Jowsey said the school was in a difficult location as its main collection/drop-off point was on a busy inner-city street with very little parking.

"We are concerned as to what's happening out there, particularly after school."

Parents were often reminded of the need to abide by traffic rules and the school was working with local authorities on wider safety measures. The programme was, however, a great way of reinforcing the message to parents.

"I think our difficulty is getting parents to understand how their one car contributes to a bigger picture ... They don't see the problems."

The council initiated the programme in 2003 after concerns about "chaos at the school gates", caused by the high volume of parents dropping off or picking up students and frequently double parking on broken yellow lines, blocking driveways and slowing traffic flow.

The programme is part of a wider school traffic safety programme running in Auckland. Other programmes include Walking School Buses.

Some schools, such as Richmond Rd, where 23 tickets were issued, are also implementing travel plans to further improve safety.

Principal Stephanie Anich said the school was organising walking buses from nearby side streets.

Parents were encouraged to drop their children at specified locations so they could then join "walking buses" for the last part of their journey to school.