Stop Means Stop

The Stop Means Stop campaign stepped up as children and young people returned to school this month. Stop Means Stop is a campaign to help tackle drivers and riders who put lives at risk by ignoring instructions to stop at school crossing patrol sites.

School crossing patrol officers (Lollipop men and women) have the power under the current Road Traffic Act to stop traffic. Any driver or rider who fails to do so, is breaking the law.

Although the majority of drivers and riders respect the work carried out by the patrols, there is still a small but significant number who ignore the law, abuse the service and put the lives of children and the patrols at risk.

Drivers are legally bound by the 1984 Road Traffic Act to stop for School Crossing Patrols, but Patrol Officers regularly have to deal with drivers who fail to stop, use abusive language and threaten patrols with physical violence. School Crossing Patrols do a very important job, helping to provide a safe route to and from school for children and adults.

Campaign posters are on display at bus-stops, sports centres, libraries and other public buildings.