SIR – I read your story about the increase in parking tickets issued outside Bradford schools with interest, as road safety is one of my new priorities in the Police and Crime Plan (T&A, May 16).
I get so many complaints about parking, in particular the problems it causes when motorists park on pavements, around schools and obstructing driveways, that I felt it was imperative this was included in the refreshed plan which outlines my commitments to communities across West Yorkshire for the next four years.
To read in your story about a head teacher forced to call police because of parking around schools just shows the severity of the problem.
I also attended an event at the Guide Dogs For The Blind Association last week, where I heard first-hand how parking on pavements causes a misery for the visually impaired, and leads to them being forced into busy roads to pass cars. This cannot be right.
Road safety will only be improved by working in partnership. While the police can prosecute some offences, others are within the jurisdiction of local councils and some road safety issues could be better resolved through planning, the use of street furniture or the involvement of the highways authority.
I will encourage the police and other partners, where appropriate, and a need exists, to educate communities on road safety and ensure that working together we can all do our bit to improve road safety across West Yorkshire.
Mark Burns Williamson, Police and Crime Commissioner for West Yorkshire
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