Lollipop man pleads with drivers to slow down

School crossing patrol officer Bob O'Neill is asking drivers to be patient

A lollipop man in North Yorkshire has pleaded with drivers to be patient and slow down while on the school run after he received abuse from motorists.

Bob O’Neill, 77, said recently drivers had sworn at him, sounded their horns and driven too fast outside Richard Taylor Primary in Harrogate.

Parents and children at the school said it was “not acceptable” for Mr O'Neill to be abused and they urged drivers to “be respectful” of the job he did.

North Yorkshire Police warned that failure to stop for a school crossing patrol could land motorists with penalty points on their licence, or a fine of up to £1,000.

Mr O'Neill has urged drivers to think about the children's safety

Mr O’Neill said he had been helping children cross the road safely every morning and afternoon for the past nine years and it was "one of the best jobs" he had ever had.

The vast majority of motorists behaved well, but there had been "the odd one or two that have just started to speed up because they’re coming up towards the crossing", he added.

Mr O'Neill said he always tried to help children to cross as quickly as possible, but pleaded with drivers to “be patient because that child I’m crossing could be one of your children”.

Mum Louise and daughter Hallie said some drivers' behaviour was unacceptable

The abuse Mr O’Neill had been receiving from drivers has shocked and saddened the local community.

Mum Louise said she had witnessed the behaviour of some drivers and it was “not acceptable”.

She added: “When you’ve got children going across the streets, Bob is there to protect our children and they need to be respectful of that”.

Daughter Hallie, a pupil at the school, said Mr O'Neill was “very kind".

"Every time we walk past him he says nice things and he always gives me a high five," she said.

Caroline, Erin and Amelia said speeding drivers were putting Bob at risk - as well as children

Meanwhile, Caroline, a mum of two children at Richard Taylor Primary, said: "The fact that people aren’t respecting Bob as a person who is putting everybody’s safety first, they’re putting him at risk and children as well”.

Emma Crisell, the school's deputy head teacher, said it was a shame Mr O'Neill was experiencing bad behaviour from one or two drivers.

“He is doing a very valuable job keeping our children and families safe," she said.

"It is incredibly disappointing to think that a small number of people are not bearing that in mind."

Deputy headteacher Emma Crisell said Bob was doing a very valuable job

North Yorkshire Police confirmed the force had received reports of anti-social driving, abuse and failing to adhere to the crossing patrol outside Richard Taylor Primary.

A spokesperson said that ignoring a "stop" sign outside a school could result in penalty points and a fine.

The Neighbourhood Policing Team in the area has now begun targeting speeding drivers on Bilton Lane, along which the school is located.

During a 30-minute check around the time the school day started, the team noted 15 vehicles travelling over the 20mph (32km/h) speed limit.

Police said they would return to the area again in a bid to continue to tackle the issue.

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