Inconsiderate parking directly outside the school must be addressed by the installation of School Keep Clear restrictions, with an appropriately timed Traffic Regulation Order (TRO).
Parking around the location of the school must be addressed through double yellow lines or single yellow lines and supplemented when required by no waiting restrictions and no loading restrictions with an appropriate TRO.
People taking children to school are not allowed to park on yellow lines and walk their children to school, but it may be legally possible for the driver to quickly pull over and remain with the car to drop off or pick up a child under the loading and unloading rules.
To mitigate this risk, it is possible to install double yellow blips on the kerb denoting no loading at any time or a single yellow blip specifying that you are not allowed to load or unload at the times shown on the sign.
Where appropriate, a build out with priority traffic regulations can provide a safer crossing facility as well as traffic calming, creating a safer environment generally for children to cross to the school.
The sign for diagram 545 is used to warn of the likelihood of encountering children in the road ahead, going to a school or playground. It must be used with the supplementary school plate. The sign may be provided where children cross the road on their way to or from school, or from one part of a school to another. In most cases, they should be restricted to the immediate area outside of a school or where significant numbers of children cross away from a school.
If the school or playground caters exclusively or predominantly for disabled, blind, or deaf children, the associated “Disabled children”, “Blind children” or “Deaf children” plate can be used. Where the crossing point benefits from School Crossing Patrol Officers, the sign shall be accompanied with the plate ‘Patrol'.
Diagram 545
20mph restrictions on the road outside the school, either permanent or, as pictured below as part of a school time advisory speed limit are required.
Advisory 20mph speed limits ‘when school lights show/flash’ is a scheme advising that a length of road in the vicinity of a school entrance should be driven at 20mph or less at school start and finish times. This is done by installing flashing lighting units (wig wags) at either end of the length of road with supplementary signs to signal an advisory lower speed limit.
Diagram 670
Bus cages are markings on the road to denote the bus stopping area and are aimed at improving safety and traffic flows.
Parking or stopping in a bus cage is prohibited and is enforceable by parking services.
A School Street is a road outside a school with a temporary restriction on motorised traffic and parking at peak school drop-off and pick-up times. The restriction applies to school traffic and through traffic, but there can be exemptions for residents of the street and for other essential purposes.
This opens streets to people on foot, cycle, scooter or mobility aid at drop off and pick up times.
Highway designs can be made to facilitate the initiative. Such an initiative should be included within the School Travel Plan.
Some school streets may require enforcement through camera technology or stewarding.
For more information, please refer to government guidance on how to set up and manage a school street.
If you have any queries or would like further information, please contact highwaysdevelopment@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk
If a scheme is likely to change road user behaviour it is likely to require a Road Safety Audit. If you have any queries or would like a quote for a Road Safety Audit, please contact roadsafety@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk
This guidance was adopted in January 2025.
