Driving fine outside school but not term time?

Akire · 09/09/2021 12:48

Sadly though the signs means business all year round. Or else anyone could play the but isn’t it half term card. Many people would have no idea when schools stop start and would need armies of people to adjust them to being on or off depending on inset days or holidays. Just going have suck it up to experience.

MagnoliaBeige · 09/09/2021 12:49

I’d check the sign to be sure but I’d be surprised if it would be term time only as how would anyone without kids at the school know when the term dates were as they change each year?

DynamoKev · 09/09/2021 12:52

There was a similar thread a while back but I can't find it.
YABU.

Motnight · 09/09/2021 12:52

We live on a road with a school. The road is shut off to vehicles for an hour in the morning and an hour in the afternoon, term time only.

TheWristBoundLatexBitch · 09/09/2021 12:55

@DynamoKev

There was a similar thread a while back but I can't find it. YABU.

That was my thread.

TheWristBoundLatexBitch · 09/09/2021 12:57

Most people know it the summer holidays in England??? http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am iibeingunreasonable/4325904-most-people-know-it-the-summer-holidays-in-england

A link would help!

GivenUpEntirely · 09/09/2021 13:03

It's too late for the fine received as you've said, but it's well worth double checking the application of the restrictions.

Our council clearly states that enforcement is only during school term time, it helpfully includes a link to that information on the website about the school streets. It's enforced by ANPR cameras.

Other councils may just take a blanket approach to those peak times Mon-Fri rather than selectively during term time because of things like school care schemes that run during the holidays. Don't believe word of mouth, always check what the enforcement body has to say.

SoupDragon · 09/09/2021 13:04

how would anyone without kids at the school know when the term dates were as they change each year?

The school website is a good place to start.

I think it's ridiculous if it's not term time only. It wouldn't matter whether you tried to get out of it by saying that you thought it wasn't term time when you drove there because it either is or it isn't - what you believe doesn't count.

It's the same for parking on the zigzags - some signs do say term time only but some do not.

Angel2702 · 09/09/2021 13:06

Ours all say term time only

starfishmummy · 09/09/2021 13:18

Go and check the sign - no one on here knows what it says. If it says "term time only" then take a photograph and write to whoever issued the fine with your evidence, proof of payment and ask for a refund.

chocolateanyone · 09/09/2021 13:22

So driving along and see a sign that says no access but term time only, therefore I should stop and quickly google to see when term time is to see if I can drive this way or not?? Don't think so

DynamoKev · 09/09/2021 13:24

@starfishmummy

Go and check the sign - no one on here knows what it says. If it says "term time only" then take a photograph and write to whoever issued the fine with your evidence, proof of payment and ask for a refund.

Exactly - hence my YABU to OP who said I feel this is totally unfair. whilst being vague about the restrictions and the signage.

DynamoKev · 09/09/2021 13:25

@chocolateanyone

So driving along and see a sign that says no access but term time only, therefore I should stop and quickly google to see when term time is to see if I can drive this way or not?? Don't think so

What a ridiculous idea - if you're unsure, don't use it - pretty simple really.

girlmom21 · 09/09/2021 13:30

What does the sign actually say?

BendingSpoons · 09/09/2021 13:34

Near me they cover up the sign in the holidays. I don't know how reliably they do this, but have definitely seen it covered at times.

Beautiful3 · 09/09/2021 13:53

Walk over there and read the sign. If it says term time only, take a photograph and email them. See what they say.

zingally · 09/09/2021 14:08

How strange! Is this in a city?

I live in a large town in the midlands, and have never seen anything like this!

CatherineCawood · 09/09/2021 14:13

Ours say no parking, stopping etc etc monday to friday and sets out times then at the end says EXCEPT August.

Go look at the sign and see what it says.

caughtinanet · 09/09/2021 15:26

@maofteens

So I've just moved, and was told I couldn't drive down the first block of a couple streets that have schools during morning drop off and collection times. Fair enough, I live in the second block and can get around it. But I've just received a fine (and it has already escalated due to issues with not receiving redirected mail) as I drove down it 14 August - but this isn't term time! School started Sept 2nd. I feel this is totally unfair. I've paid it as I'm beyond the appeal date now, but is this restriction all year then? I thought the sign said term time only.

Had you informed the DVLA of your new address? If the fine increased because they are behind with their processing and sent it to the wrong address maybe you can get that bit of the fine reduced

UserOfManyNames · 09/09/2021 16:46

I have also never come across this and I’ve lived all in many places in the UK. I was expecting more people to be at this but it seems to be common from the responses.

So you actually can’t drive down streets where the schools are? All the streets where schools are that I’ve known are rammed at drop of and pick up time. Are you in the UK or is this a new thing? Do people dropping their DC off not get fined? What about if they’re dropping off disabled DC or picking up an injured or unwell one? How is that policed?

Very strange.

XelaM · 09/09/2021 16:51

@Motnight Me too!!! And I absolutely HATE it!! It's really horrible that in case of an emergency/work/child pick up/delivery not only I can't get out, but no one can get in. Plus the school does not open the road on time. It's really horrible for residents

UserOfManyNames · 09/09/2021 17:02

So you’re trapped in your street @XelaM? That is bloody outrageous!

Surely this just moves the traffic chaos to the streets further out?

Perhaps if we had a school bus service similar to the US one, with meeting points along the way, school traffic chaos would be eradicated. There are no school bus services at all in my town anymore (South East) and secondary schools especially are generally a good distance away.

My DS has just started secondary and all it has is a tiny turning area in front so there are massive queues up and down the streets all around. Does my head in!

Excuse the thread derail!

Akire · 09/09/2021 17:03

We have same things our area. Just means traffic parks someone else road few streets away. Slightly safer in that less erratic driving at school gate when run out but not the “green” solutions it’s supposed to be

MojoMoon · 09/09/2021 17:10

They are increasingly common in some, mostly inner, London boroughs- the scheme is called School Streets and is at state primaries.

It's largely to prevent and deter parents from trying to drive right to school door, idling their engines, parking badly and blocking streets.

Makes it much safer outside the school gate and the immediate vicinity of the school and gives more room for parents to stand spaced out etc.

Also nudges people driving very short distances to get out of their car as it has been made a bit less convenient for them.

Wouldn't change their behaviour if it is a long distance to school in a rural area but for London primaries, no one is very far away.

Akire · 09/09/2021 17:17

I am That very street. But now they get extra earlier with engines running to get a space. But hey means can have cute photos children skipping in Road outside school looking like air is better. As if 100 metres away makes difference