To the editor,
I wish to draw to your intention what I believe to be an ongoing and extremely dangerous practise, not to mention illegal.

This is the parking on double yellow lines outside schools. This also occurs outside the Galway County Council Offices, pizza shops, post offices, banks, taxi ranks etc.

I am a motorist, cyclist and a pedestrian and I see this practise to be dangerous from all three perspectives. It is time we all realise that many of us are all three and stop being so car-ist or cyclist.

I have been living in Galway for two years now and, having moved here from Australia, am shocked to see that both the police, the council, principals and lolly-pop ladies seem to turn a blind eye to this dangerous and illegal practise.

It seems hypocritical when, on the one hand, the Road Safety Authority warns parents of the dangers of illegal parking in regard to children's safety, however the authorities do not support them in their efforts. I have been to the council also and been told someone is patrolling the area, although I have not seen anyone be moved or fined.

Parents are not just parking on double yellows, they are parking within ten metres of major intersections, parking in the middle of the road, parking on the footpaths, ultimately pushing vehicles onto the wrong side of the road almost causing head on collisions.

Poor cyclists are forced into the middle of the road also. Children are forced to walk between parked cars and this is exactly what we teach them not to do. These parents are not only setting a bad example but also often becoming abusive when confronted. There seems to be a cowboy attitude in Ireland, 'I've been doing it for years'.

It is sad to say that children are being put at risk because of the sheer laziness of adults. It is also a point to note that most of these vehicles are four wheel drives with limited visibility to the rear. Every year there are a number of unfortunate incidents where children get run over in their parent's driveways let alone outside schools.

I would like to see this on-going issue addressed by the council and the Gardaí before someone gets killed. I will be following this up with both the parking inspectors at the council and the road safety authority.

The schools where I have personally witnessed this to be a problem are Scoil Fhursa, Scoil Ignod, The National School and Salerno, although I know the problem is widespread.

Come on fellow citizens, it is time to realise that you are putting other peoples' lives at risk. Find a legal park and get out and walk or better still walk the kids to school. The side effects are improved bone density and a better love life!

Carina Harkin
Waterlane

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