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Zigzag lines enforcement

Suitable for all schools and nurseries.

Overview

Education phase

Early years Key stage 2 Key stage 3 Key stage 4 Key stage 5 Key stage 1

Category of activity

Travel

Types of activity

Smarter Driving Better Driving

How it helps

  • Eases congestion at schools gates
  • Reduces air pollution around schools
  • Improves road safety

About the activity

Not all drivers pay attention to the zigzag lines painted on roads outside school entrances to prevent cars from stopping or parking. If this is an issue you face outside your school, the enforcement of zigzag lines can help improve your pupils’ safety as they come and go, and reduce congestion. As a result your school could benefit from less pollution and better air quality in the local area.

Ideas for enforcing zigzag lines

  • Pupil-led campaign which could include posters being displayed alongside the zigzag lines, or pupil-designed parking tickets being issued to offending parents! 
  • Teacher-led patrol during drop-off and pick-up times
  • Letters to remind parents of enforcement and why it’s important

If the problem persists after your campaign, speak to your borough council about measures such as CCTV and restricted road access.

If you don’t already have zigzag lines and think your school could benefit from them, speak to your borough road safety officer.

How to evidence your activity 

Record feedback from pupils and staff and note down the impact the activity has had on the number of drivers stopping on the zigzag lines and how this has helped you meet your objectives. 

When you upload the evidence to support your story include photos and feedback from teachers and parents and any survey results. Also include posters, parking tickets, letters or promotional materials you produced for your campaign. 

Activity steps

Step 1

Assess the situation. Carry out a survey of the school’s zigzag lines. How many drivers ignore them each day or week?

Step 2

Set your targets. Look at the results of the survey and set your new zigzag line enforcement targets

Step 3

Come together. As a group, decide how you would like to tackle the number of drivers ignoring the zigzag lines. Will you have poster campaign? Issue tickets? Patrol the area? Or a combination?

Step 4

Launch your campaign. Spread the word about your zigzag campaign in your school's newsletter, on notice boards and in assemblies

Step 5

Check for success. Carry out a second survey of the school’s zigzag lines to see if your campaign has helped you reach your enforcement targets

Step 6

Tell your story. Upload evidence in "my activities".