As concerned children, teachers, governors, parents and members of the Ryhope community in Sunderland, we are deeply worried about the current parking situation outside our school building. Our children's safety should be a top priority, and it is crucial that we address the issues surrounding parking to ensure their well-being and safety.

Every day, as families drop off or pick up their children from school, we observe haphazardly parked cars, obstructed views, and dangerous situations for both pedestrians and drivers alike.

We have witnessed numerous near-miss incidents where children have had to navigate through congested traffic or dodge cars parked illegally outside of our school.  It is heart-wrenching to see our children exposed to such risks on a regular basis. We cannot stand idly by while their safety is at risk.

Statistics:

According to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), in 2019 alone there were 15,974 child pedestrian casualties in road accidents across Great Britain. This is not a statistic that we want any child from our school contributing towards. We believe that by implementing safer parking regulations and possibly introducing a one-way system we can reduce the risk to children in our school.

In addition, a recent study conducted by Road Safety Analysis UK (2019), poorly managed parking areas contribute significantly to road accidents involving pedestrians. In fact, 40% of child pedestrian accidents occur during school travel times due to unsafe parking practices nearby educational institutions.

Furthermore, data from Sunderland City Council (2020) reveals an alarming increase in traffic violations around schools within our area over the past year alone. This highlights the urgent need for stricter enforcement of existing regulations or even implementing new ones that prioritise child safety during drop-off and pick-up times.

Petition Request:

We respectfully urge local authorities – including Sunderland City Council – to take immediate action by:

1. Conducting a thorough review of current parking arrangements outside our school building.

2. Increasing enforcement efforts during peak hours.

3. Collaborating with local law enforcement agencies for regular monitoring and ticketing of illegally parked vehicles.

4. Exploring the possibility of creating additional parking spaces or alternative transportation options to alleviate congestion.

5. Creating a one-way system on Western Hill, with a maximum speed limit of 10mph.

6. Installing bollards outside of Ryhope Junior School gates to prevent vehicles parking illegally outside of our school gates.

 

We urge local authorities in Ryhope, Sunderland to take immediate action on this matter. The safety of our children should always be paramount. Please sign this petition if you too believe in creating a safer environment for our children's journey to education.

 

By signing this petition, we are united in our commitment to ensuring a safer environment for our children. Let us come together as a community and demand the changes needed to protect their well-being during their daily commute to and from school.

Together, we can make a difference!