Read more articles in: Blog, Criminal, Mandeep Sehmi

Do you know the law in place to protect ‘lollipop ladies’?

School Crossing Patrol Operatives, more well known as ‘lollipop ladies’, have been on UK roads since the 1950s when this role was commonly adopted. But did you know they are backed up by the DVLA and the Highway Code?

These operatives have the power to stop traffic to allow children to cross the road safely. Any driver who fails to stop is committing the offence of “failing to comply with a school crossing patrol sign”, which carries the driving licence endorsement code “TS60”.

What are the consequences of not following these orders?

If you continue to drive along the road when the operative is walking into position, you could receive an immediate three points on your driving licence, which stays on for four years.

Plus, as it is an offence under the 1984 Road Traffic Act, drivers are liable for prosecution and a fine.

How common is this incident?

In the last three years, there have been 13 prosecutions for TS60 violations, with 2019 seeing the most arrests for this offence – a total of four drivers.

These stats came from a Freedom of Information Request to the DVLA from a UK vehicle leasing company called Select Car Leasing.

Its Managing Director, Graham Conway, said: “The number of prosecutions is mercifully low compared with other road offences. Yet it’s still shocking that some motorists – ‘lollipop lunatics’, as we’ve dubbed them – still feel that they’re in such a rush to get to where they need to be that they can ignore a school crossing patrol operative.

“The potential consequences of a driver turning a blind eye to what are often large groups of children waiting to cross the road are grave indeed.

How Mander Hadley can help with Motoring Offences

Our specialist motoring offences team can offer advice and representation for a whole range of road traffic offences. The penalties for such offences range from fines, licence endorsements and disqualifications through to community and jail sentences, so it is vital to have the help of an expert.

Motoring offences include: