'Road rage' Clevedon drivers strike social distancing barriers

North Somerset Council said a traffic control woman was almost knocked over

“Road rage” drivers have been criticised for risking children’s safety at a school crossing following the installation of social distancing barriers.

The barriers were installed on Old Street in Clevedon to give pedestrians more space on the busy school route.

Some drivers have mounted the pavement, with one hitting the school "lollipop" pole while it was being held.

A local head teacher said the situation filled him with “great concern”.

North Somerset Council installed the water-filled barriers to make the area safer for pedestrians while waiting for the school crossing patrol, but parents said drivers were getting “stuck and frustrated”.

The crossing is a major walking route for families at St Nicholas’ Chantry primary school, All Saints primary school and Clevedon School.

'Unsafe driving'

St Nicholas’ head teacher, Peter Treasure-Smith, said: “People have been driving through when the crossing patrol person was in the road and not respecting the crossing patrol.

“If the crossing patrol and the families are being put in danger because of unsafe driving, that fills me with great concern.”

James Tonkin, of North Somerset Council, said: “The school crossing patrol has never been busier. But the dangerous behaviour of a small minority of irresponsible drivers is putting lives at risk.

“We have a traffic patrol lady and drivers are acting totally irresponsibly, in fact they nearly knocked her over on one occasion.

“There is a little bit of a build-up of traffic, because we have to keep the children safe, but drivers are just too impatient. They are driving on pavements, hitting the barriers, just generally road rage type stuff, from minor infringements to major ones, and it is not acceptable.”