Safe Speed Forums

Mum fears crossing accident could kill or injure youngster
parent claims driver came within inches of colliding with her baby’s pram
By Gary Cruden

WORRIED: Vanda Ray at the crossing with her daughters Amy, 8, and four-month-old Nikita . Kevin Emslie WORRIED: Vanda Ray at the crossing with her daughters Amy, 8, and four-month-old Nikita . Kevin Emslie

A worried parent has warned it is “just a matter of time” before a child is seriously injured or killed outside a north-east school.
Vanda Ray, 34, said drivers were ignoring the zebra crossing outside Portlethen Academy and speeding along Bruntland Road.
She claimed a driver came within inches of colliding with a pram containing her four-month-old daughter, Nikita, at the crossing last week.
But when she inquired about having a speed camera installed at the site she was told no action could be taken until someone was killed.

Mrs Ray, of Shinpark Circle, Portlethen, said: “My concern is that about 80% of cars and buses ignore the fact that anyone is at the crossing. People go straight through it.
“Last week I was waiting to go over the crossing and there were two cars coming. One stopped, the other sped up and missed the pram by inches.
“It’s one of the main routes to school for kids and it’s just a matter of time before a driver speeds through the crossing and hits one of them.
“It’s a ‘twenty’s plenty’ road and the speed cars are travelling at is ridiculous.” Mrs Ray said she had contacted Grampian Police, local councillors and the North East Safety Camera Partnership (Nescamp).
She added: “Nescamp told me that there was nothing they could do until there was a death,” .
A Nescamp spokesman said: “The locations which Nescamp conduct speed checks at have a proven road casualty record and the emphasis has to be at these locations where efforts can be made to reduce casualty levels.
“Bruntland Road, Portlethen, has neither a significant road casualty history, nor evidence of regular excessive speeds, which is why Nescamp do not operate in that area.”
Concerned

North Kincardine councillor Ian Mollison said: “I’m aware the community council has also been concerned and has had a number of people in touch.
“I have been in contact with the police and roads officials at the council and both are aware of the problem.”
He said the council would carry out a survey on the road following the school holidays to see if a light-controlled crossing would be more appropriate than the current one.
A council spokesman said the road was due to be resurfaced and more visible markings would be painted at the crossing as part of the works.

Vanda Ray, 34, said drivers were ignoring the zebra crossing outside Portlethen Academy and speeding along Bruntland Road.
She claimed a driver came within inches of colliding with a pram containing her four-month-old daughter, Nikita, at the crossing last week.

But when she inquired about having a speed camera installed at the site she was told no action could be taken until someone was killed.
…
She added: “Nescamp told me that there was nothing they could do until there was a death,” .

She claimed a driver came within inches of colliding with a pram containing her four-month-old daughter, Nikita, at the crossing last week.

Question "North East Safety Camera Partnership (Nescamp) ( sounds like an amalgamation of brands of coffee) should be asking -do these mothers need road safety training - the child in pram is too often being put in a position of danger ,rather than being held in a position of safety ,whilst the mothers check out the safety of crossing .

But a considerate driver should stop if they see a person with a pram or push-chair waiting to cross the road, especially at a marked crossing.

But a considerate driver should stop if they see a person with a pram or push-chair waiting to cross the road, especially at a marked crossing.

Indeed, but who is to say the person didn't make themselves 'seen'? I have seen people do just that - literally just step into the road without any indication.
Bad pedestrians (and cyclists) can be just as bad at signalling their intentions as bad drivers.

I would regard a person standing at the road side with a pram at right angles to the road as giving a clear intention of their wish to cross the road and would stop for them. How else can a pram pusher indicate their intention to cross the road?

I would regard a person standing at the road side with a pram at right angles to the road as giving a clear intention of their wish to cross the road and would stop for them. How else can a pram pusher indicate their intention to cross the road?

PROBLEM - they DON'T STOP AT SIDE OF ROAD --they push pram into road ,then protest when little Nikita or Darwin is in the firing line .It's not the ones who try to protect their kids who cause the problem ,but those who abuse the push chair that ARE the problem .

Have you really never seen folk just suddenly decide to want to step out into a road without any prior indication before-hand?

I can't sensibly continue this discussion until you answer my question which can be rephrased as: what prior indication do you expect? In my experience it is difficult to step into the road without, even if not deliberately, giving some indication - body language, position and movement.