The Government's decision to close a legal loophole preventing lollipop men and women from accompanying adults across the road is a victory for common sense which will be more than welcomed across the district.
In Calverley, for instance, there has been an ongoing row over a Leeds City Council ruling that traffic using the stretch of road outside the C of E Primary School cannot be stopped for adults unless they are accompanied by a pupil from the school. This means, in effect, that mothers with babies in prams taking a child to school can be escorted safely over the crossing, but once the child has gone into the school they must make the return trip unaided.
The Council's trepidation has been understandable given concerns raised by insurance rules. If an adult was knocked down while crossing on the say-so of a lollipop person, they could be deemed to be responsible.
But now that the rules are to be changed, within extended time limits any child or adult can expect to be helped across the road if they need it. Many adults will not, of course. They will prefer to continue to use their own judgement and make their own way across without having someone stop the traffic for them.
But some groups will be thankful for the change. Older people, for instance, are often hesitant about making their way across increasingly busy roads. But the main beneficiaries will be mothers with babies or toddlers who will be reassured that in future not only can they be helped across the road, but they can also be helped back.
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