Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Danielle Stone has launched free Safer Schools Parking Packs for primary schools across Northamptonshire as part of Road Safety Week – providing practical resources to help schools promote road safety and encourage considerate driving around school gates.
The packs have been developed to support schools in reinforcing important road safety messages with pupils, parents and the wider community, helping to create safer environments for children travelling to and from school.
Available free of charge to all primary schools in Northamptonshire, each Safer Schools Parking Pack includes two highly visible ‘Parking Buddy’ pavement signs and a road safety banner designed to encourage considerate parking and driving behaviours around schools.
The packs are designed to support schools in promoting positive behaviours around school gates and raising awareness of how considerate parking and driving can help keep children, families and local communities safe.
Road traffic incidents remain the leading cause of child deaths in the UK, and around 1,200 children are injured every month within 500 metres of a school. The new packs are intended to help schools reinforce positive road safety messages and support safer environments for pupils, parents and the wider community.
Alongside the physical resources, schools can access a range of educational materials and support, helping teachers promote road safety learning both in the classroom and beyond.
The accompanying guidance provided within the packs encourages schools to raise awareness through newsletters and assemblies, display clear signage, promote active travel options such as walking and cycling, and work with partners to tackle persistent parking concerns. Advice for parents highlights the importance of parking legally and considerately, avoiding restricted areas and keeping routes clear for pedestrians and emergency vehicles.
Danielle Stone, Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Northamptonshire, said:
“Every child deserves to travel to and from school safely, and I know how hard schools work to promote safe and responsible behaviours. The Safer Schools Parking Packs have been developed to support those efforts and provide practical resources that can help reinforce important road safety messages with pupils, parents and the wider community.
“Small changes in the way we drive and park can make a significant difference to the safety of children and families.
“Road Safety Week is the perfect opportunity to launch this initiative and remind everyone that we all have a responsibility to help keep our roads safe. By working together, schools, parents, communities and partners can create safer environments around school gates and help ensure every child can travel to and from school safely.”
This initiative supports the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner’s commitment to improving road safety across Northamptonshire and reflects priorities set out in the Safe and Sound Plan.
The launch of the Safer Schools Parking Packs marks the beginning of a wider programme of school safety work. Building on this road safety initiative, the Commissioner’s crime reduction team will continue working with schools to develop further opportunities that help keep children and young people safe.
This work supports the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner’s commitment to keeping Northamptonshire’s communities safe and supported. As part of the annual budget consultation, residents are being invited to have their say on proposals for next year’s police and fire precepts, which help fund local policing, fire and rescue services, and wider community safety initiatives.
Feedback received through the consultation will help inform the Commissioner’s final proposals before they are considered by the Police, Fire and Crime Panel.
Residents can share their views before the consultation closes at 9am on Tuesday 12 January 2027 by completing the survey: https://www.research.net/r/XRKB3FX
