Parking problem

One mother screamed in fear as a car came close to hitting her son as they walked to the John Hunt Primary School, Balderton, on Friday morning.

There is chaos on London Road at the start and end of the school day.

Vehicles weave between parked cars and pedestrian islands outside the school, and buses have to stop in the middle of the road.

While the latest incident brings the problem into focus it is by no means exclusive to the John Hunt school.

For some, the school run is unavoidable as they are on their way to work or they live too far away for the journey on foot to be practical.

But the children being put at risk by poor, and sometimes selfish, parking are still learning pedestrian skills.

As district councillor Mrs Betty Brooks puts it: “The children are taught road safety at school but what’s the point when the parents abuse it?”

Taking more care when parking and thinking more about the example being set is not an unreasonable expectation.

No one wants there to have to be a serious or even fatal accident for the message to hit home.

The problem may not be exclusive to John Hunt but perhaps the parents there will show that lessons can be learned and small changes can make a big difference to the safety of their children.