Drivers urged to ‘Think Before You Park’

Exeter Local Policing team have launched their ‘Think Before You Park’ project in partnership with Devon and Somerset Fire & Rescue and Exeter County Council Parking Enforcement.

The project is an exciting new multiagency initiative that aims to tackle problem parking, where drivers have parked anti-socially, without care or consideration for other road users, pedestrians and emergency service vehicles.

The pilot has initially targeted residential areas and areas outside of primary schools within Exeter.

By adopting an education before enforcement approach, road users will have the opportunity to address and change their anti-social parking habits, before facing penalty charge enforcement notices.

The project will also show case a new device: the Anti-Social Parking Deterrent, which has also been previously used successfully within Plymouth to tackle similar issues.

Sgt. Martin Burrow, Neighbourhood Team Leader for Exeter said: “We are aware of the problems caused by inconsiderate parking, predominately at the start and end of the school day, in terms of safety for children looking to cross the road and also for local residents when access to their properties becomes difficult.”

“It’s been fantastic to work with both Devon and Somerset Fire & Rescue as well as Exeter City Council, to raise awareness amongst parents and drivers in order to reduce some of the issues that we’re regularly seeing”

“We’ve already had a really positive response to the pilot and are confident that through this education before enforcement solution, we’ll continue to increase safety around schools over the coming months, however, where we see persistent or significant issues we will ensure that relevant legislation is robustly enforced.”