Children Road Safety and School Crossings

So-called because of the sign they carry - a yellow circle showing the international depiction of children with the word STOP above, a black band in the middle and a red band around the edge, atop a yellow and black striped post, lollipop men and ladies are the people responsible for ensuring that children safely cross the road on their way to school.

Officially known as School Crossing Patrols", lollipop men/women first appeared on British streets in 1953 in an attempt to reduce the number of child traffic accident casualties. Although the volume of traffic on the roads at the time was insignificant compared to today, the growing numbers of vehicles following the end of the war and the removal of fuel rationing had meant that children were faced with situations they were unfamiliar with.

The job of a lollipop person is to walk to the middle of the road, at a suitable time, holding up their sign; it is a legal requirement for traffic to stop at this command. Once it is safe to do so, the lollipop man/lady will signal that it is alright to cross. Traffic may only move once the sign has been lowered and it is safe to do so.

Generally speaking, school crossings are manned for approximately 3 hours a day or less; these hours being split between the morning and afternoon. As a result, the work has always appealed more to people who were just seeking to supplement their income such as the retired or married women without childcare responsibilities. The increasing trend for women to follow full time career paths has meant that there are now far fewer of the latter willing to take on the role.

Anyone taking on the job of a lollipop person needs to be physically fit (able to leap out of path of oncoming speeding car!) and possess good eyesight but these are only the statutory requirements. Apart from a reflective jacket/coat and hat, lollipop personnel do not wear a uniform unlike the police or traffic warders who also at times man school crossings; therefore they need to be able to utilise social skills and build a good rapport with both children and adults; they are, after all, the first person connected with the school that most people see in the morning, and the last in the afternoon.

For the right person, the job as a lollipop person can be extremely rewarding. Not only are you playing an important role in keeping children safe on the roads, but through the contact you build up over time with children, parents, teachers and other adults, you have an opportunity to become a valued member of your community.

http://www.lollipopman.co.uk/1820.html

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/2980942.stm

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