"Child safety is not an optional extra" - why Scottish councils should rethink cuts to lollipop wardens

This week there was a news story that struck a chord with parents, officials and safety campaigners – the national reduction in lollipop men and women. 

Statistics in The Sunday Post revealed that in 2019 there were 1,886 crossing patrol staff across Scotland but this year that has fallen to just 1,449 – a reduction of 23%.

That’s 437 less people on our streets helping to keep people safe. Not just children crossing the street but other pedestrians, passengers and motorists (and even eyewitnesses) who may be affected by a collision.

In Glasgow warden numbers fell from 322 in 2019 to 246 this year and Aberdeen saw staffing fall from 36 to 11.

The Highlands has fallen from 55 to 41 while West Lothian has fallen from 110 to just 56.

Moray roads are potentially now the most at risk – staffing levels here have fallen from 32 to zero.

That’s right… none.

How can we justify removing our iconic safety wardens from the streets?

Unfortunately, the public purse is tighter than ever with Scots everywhere seeing and feeling cuts to frontline services across the board.

While data trends paint a picture showing an overall reduction in road casualties over the last decade, collisions do still happen – and when a child is struck by a vehicle the consequences are frequently serious, sometimes sadly fatal. 

It’s for this reason we cannot allow children’s lives to become a calculated risk, optional extra or discretionary expense within a council budget.

Campaigners on this issue have been unequivocal: the removal of patrol staff risks an increase in collisions and injuries. We see understand this as well which is why we are proud to support road safety groups like Brake.

There are also broader social consequences to consider as fewer crossing guards could undermine parents’ confidence in their children’s independence.

Some may argue that alternative crossing facilities or volunteer schemes can fill the gap. But no zebra crossing or pelican light can replicate the reassurance and authority of a trained adult ensuring a safe passage at the school gate. 

While local authorities are not specifically required by law to provide a school crossing patrol service, they play a significant role in reducing the number of road accidents involving children. Section 18 of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 empowers education authorities to undertake safety improvements on roads used by pupils travelling to and from schools. Under section 51, education authorities have a duty to make arrangements for the conveyance of pupils between their homes and schools or other educational establishments. Furthermore, local authorities have a responsibility to ensure the safety of pupils travelling on school transport. Surely this should extend to seeing children safely across the road on their journey to and from school. 

With my background in personal injury law and helping people affected by serious injury and road traffic collisions, I am inclined to think that councils should consult meaningfully with parents and schools before any further reductions are made.

Let us not be remembered as the generation that priced safety out of our communities. 

Our children’s wellbeing is the truest measure of our society’s priorities. It is not too late to improve upon this needlessly dangerous course.

The original Sunday Post article can be read here.