A two-week police operation will crack down on dangerous drivers who endanger Tayside’s pupils.
Patrols will be stepped up around primary and secondary schools across the region as the term starts on Tuesday.
Roads officers will target any vehicle being driven too fast and will also be on the look-out for badly parked cars in a bid to make the areas around schools safer for children, parents and staff.
Constable Gordon Dickson from the road policing unit in Dundee said: “We are here to make the areas around the schools safer for kids to come and go, without them having the fear of being struck by a vehicle driving too fast or parked where it shouldn’t be.
“Officers are asking parents who take their children to school to obey the road markings outside schools, be sensible and keep their children and everyone else’s children safe this term.
“At the end of the day, this is their children’s lives we are speaking about and I’m sure any parent can appreciate and understand that.”
In recent years, officers in Tayside have worked with partner agencies such as councils to improve safety around schools. That has seen traffic calming measures and new parking restrictions introduced at many locations where motorists continue to pose a danger to youngsters.
This month’s campaign will be undertaken alongside the Police Scotland Vulnerable Road Users Campaign that runs from August 24 to 30. It targets issues that pose a threat to pedestrians, bicyclists, horse riders and motorcyclists who accounted for 74 road deaths and more than 3,400 injuries during 2013.
Inspector Brian Poole, head of Tayside divisional road policing unit, added: “The initiative is part of our commitment to making Scotland’s roads safer.
“To reinforce this message, our officers will be patrolling roads and carrying out additional road checks for the duration of the initiative.
“They will be taking every opportunity to give advice and, where appropriate, enforce legislation with a particular emphasis on the dangers faced by more vulnerable road users.”
The standard of driving around schools in the Dundee, Angus and Perth and Kinross council areas will be scrutinised as part of the operation.
Anyone who has concerns about an particular area can report them to police by calling 101.