A lollipop man said he had been told he could no longer high-five children while they are crossing the road because it slows down traffic. Neil Cotton, 57, has been working as a school crossing patrol officer in Howden, East Yorkshire for about two years. In a social media post, he said he could not high-five the children anymore, because "it upsets some drivers having to wait another 10 seconds". East Riding of Yorkshire Council said it was vitally important children learned to cross the road safely, without any distractions. Mr Cotton helps children from the infant, junior and secondary schools in Howden to cross the junction known locally as Cross Keys Corner. His social media post received more than 100 comments before it was taken down. On the school run, Kirsty Wilcox, toldBBC Look North: "I think it's wrong. Why shouldn't he, what's wrong with it? "It puts a smile on the kids' faces. My son does it all the time. But now he gets upset because he's not allowed to do it." Another parent, Theresa Holt, said: "It's silly. It takes literally seconds and it gives that child that little bit of happiness. He's great with my little boy and he sees him as a friendly face." Driver Tony Brooke described the move as "rules gone mad". "It's absurd. Just to high five to them, I don't see there's a problem with that," he said. "He's going to hold the traffic up to let the kids across so I wouldn't have thought it would add any more time to people's journeys at all. It's crazy." Another driver, Michael Dalton, added: "I think it's a bit OTT to be honest. It's a bit PC [political correctness] going crazy again. As a driver, we need to be a bit more courteous, certainly at school times." East Riding of Yorkshire Council said: "It is vitally important that children learn to cross the road safely, concentrating without any distractions, walking carefully and being vigilant of the traffic. "In this particular case, one of our officers spoke with this crossing patrol and simply reminded them of the need not to have distractions while children are crossing. "However, we are confident they will continue doing a fantastic job and they are much appreciated." Listen to highlights fromHull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch thelatest episode of Look Northor tell us about a story you think we should be coveringhere.
Lollipop man told to stop giving kids high-fives
TruthLens AI Suggested Headline:
"Council Instructs Crossing Guard to Stop High-Fives with Children"
Bbc News
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TruthLens AI Summary
Neil Cotton, a 57-year-old school crossing patrol officer in Howden, East Yorkshire, has been instructed to cease giving high-fives to children as they cross the road. This decision, attributed to concerns about traffic delays, has sparked considerable debate among parents and local residents. According to Cotton, the East Riding of Yorkshire Council expressed that the high-fives were upsetting some drivers who had to wait an additional ten seconds for children to cross. Cotton, who has served in this role for about two years, guides students from local infant, junior, and secondary schools at a busy junction known as Cross Keys Corner. In a social media post about the change, Cotton noted the importance of focusing on road safety and minimizing distractions during this critical time for young pedestrians. However, the post garnered over 100 comments before it was removed, indicating a strong public response to the council's directive.
The community reaction has largely been one of disapproval towards the council's decision, with many parents expressing their support for Cotton's friendly interactions with children. Kirsty Wilcox, a parent, argued that high-fives bring joy to children and contribute positively to their crossing experience. Other parents echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the brief interaction as a source of happiness for the children. Drivers in the area also voiced their concerns, with one local, Tony Brooke, labeling the rule as "absurd" and suggesting that it does not significantly impact traffic flow. The council, in response, reiterated the necessity for children to learn to cross the road without distractions, stating that one of their officers merely reminded Cotton of this guideline. Despite the controversy, the council expressed confidence in Cotton's performance as a crossing guard, acknowledging the valuable service he provides to the community. This incident highlights the ongoing debate between safety regulations and the importance of fostering positive interactions between children and community members.
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