School crossing patrol

There are various criteria that we look at when we are deciding whether or not to fund a new school crossing patrol. These include:

• number of children
• volume and speed of traffic
• what other crossing measures are available nearby

School crossings can be funded by us, however, it is also possible for a school or parish or town council, or other organisation, to fund a school crossing patrol.

For more information, please contact us.

• when taking your child to and from school always set a good example and use the patrol
• always encourage your child to go to the patrol point to cross
• follow the instructions given by the patrol and do not follow the patrol into the road but wait on the footpath until asked to cross
• always cross in front of the patrol, never behind their back
• crossing the road away from a patrol point or not using the patrol is dangerous and sets a bad example to children

It is helpful if motorists think carefully when approaching a school crossing patrol.

• if you see a lollipop lady or lollipop man on the pavement, slow down and be prepared to stop if the sign is raised
• if you are asked to stop, wait a short distance from the patrol and do not creep forward or rev your engine and do not move away until the patrol is completely off the road
• do not park near or on the usual crossing point as you could obstruct the patrol's view or prevent them from safely stepping out
• remember that failing to stop when asked to do so is an offence and offenders are always reported to the police

When available, you can view our school crossing patrol officer jobs here.

If the issue is causing an immediate danger to the safety of road users, it is classed as an emergency. You should contact us by telephone to report an emergency rather than using our online forms. Our opening hours are Monday to Friday 8am - 5.30pm.

Dial 999 if there is current injury or danger to life.

Otherwise, you can tell us about an issue with a pedestrian crossing using the 'my account' section of the website. 'My account' also allows you to view details of services you have previously applied, booked and paid for. You can also see updates on their progress.

Log in and report a highway issue

If you prefer, you can tell us about a highway issue anonymously, but please be aware that you will miss out on the benefits of having an account which means you will not receive progress updates.

As resources are limited, we have to look at every request for a new pedestrian crossing and decide what is the best action to take. We will look at the volume of traffic and pedestrians using the street. Sometimes, other types of actions such as speed limit enforcement or signage might be considered instead of a new crossing. If speeding is the issue, have a look at how we can help with speeding problems in your area.

Sometimes, it may be that the area of road you have alerted us to is not as dangerous as other places in terms of how many accidents there have been there. There may be other streets where accidents and injuries have been reported, and we will need to take action there first. 

You can contact us online to request that we study your area to assess the need for a new crossing using the 'My Account' service.