A fire service is urgently pleading with parents to park more responsibly during the school run and says that congested roads are putting lives at risk.
Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service (TWFRS) released dashcam footage from one of its engines which completed dummy blue-light runs around some of the worst affected areas in Sunderland.
It shows the engine struggling to pass through narrow gaps between cars parked in the road during the school run, which the service said could be putting lives in danger. It has led to a joint call from TWFRS and Sunderland City Council for drivers to think more carefully about where they park on the school run.
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Station manager Jonny Ramanayake, who works in TWFRS ’s Prevention and Education team, said “Inconsiderate parking on any street can slow down our response to an incident. If we can't get through in an emergency, the incident we are going to could deteriorate significantly.
“House fires can spread rapidly - every second counts. Ask yourself whether the seconds you save by parking inconsiderately are worth more than the seconds you could cost us responding to a serious incident?
“Parking around schools causes us significant issues, but it also happens in many streets across the region. We urge you to be more considerate about your parking.
“If we can’t get through – you are putting lives at risk. If we can’t get down that road, it is unlikely that an Ambulance could either. The responsibility falls on the public.”
Echoing Jonny’s calls, Sunderland City Council's cabinet member for Dynamic City, Kevin Johnston, said: "Parking restrictions outside of schools exist for a reason; to keep children safe as they enter and leave school.
"Parking in these restricted zones can cause all kinds of problems from blocking pedestrians’ views of the roads to preventing emergency vehicles from accessing the school if needed.”
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