GEORGE TOWN, Sept 25 — The teaching profession believes the authorities should work with police to manage the traffic flow outside school areas to protect children. 

National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP) Penang chairman Ng Weng Tutt called for traffic policemen to be stationed near schools after three pupils were killed while trying to cross roads outside their schools in the past week. 

"Nowadays, we see schools taking the responsibility of engaging security guards to monitor school entrances near main roads. Some schools even deploy People Volunteers Corps (Rela) personnel to monitor the traffic,” he said. 

"But despite this, reckless driving in school areas is still a cause of concern. The situation would be different if traffic policemen are stationed outside schools. Motorists will slow down when they see a policeman,” he said. 

He said local governments should play a part by providing basic safety measures for pedestrians, including students, such as zebra crossings, speed bumps and pedestrian bridges.

SK St Mark, Prai headmaster Norfaizah Abdullah concurred with Ng’s view and urged law enforcers to monitor traffic flow at schools which have entrances along main roads. 

She said schools in the northeast district of the island were more prone to such accidents as most of the schools were located along main roads.

"Pedestrian safety measures should also be present outside schools. Not just zebra crossings but also signs to warn motorists they are approaching a school,” she said.  

She said parents should play a bigger role in guiding their children while crossing roads even though there were security guards and teachers present. 

"There are also schools where parking space is limited, forcing parents to drop off their children across the road,” Norfaizah said.

"I always remind my teachers not to park near the school gate, but to give priority to parents to drop off and pick up the students.” 

In Ipoh, SJK(C) Bercham Parent-Teacher Association chairman Yew Chee Seng said there was a need for more long-term safety measures. 

He said the two speed-breakers in front of the schools gate were constructed by the association a year ago but more can be done to ensure students safety. 

"They are a bit old and the paint has faded. Last year, we applied to the Ipoh City Council, requesting for proper speed bumps and a traffic light to make it safer for students to cross, but we have not heard from the council since,” he said. 

A parent from the same school said while numerous safety measures can be taken to prevent road accidents in front of schools, nothing will change as long as motorists refuse to change their attitude.

"The problem is with attitude. Here, drivers don’t bother stopping at pedestrian crossings and some even drive faster to ensure that pedestrians can’t cross,” said the 41-year-old, who wished to be known as Lim. 

"Until this changes, students who want to cross the road will continue to face danger.” 

Lim, who has two school-going children aged 12 and 10, said she was concerned about the measures put in place in front of her children’s school. 

Right now the school has two speed-breakers in front of the school gates. But the yellow lines on the speed-breakers are blurred and motorists might speed if they don’t see the bumps.

"I am worried because Lorong Bercham 8 is used by big lorries and buses at times,” she said. 

On Tuesday, Mohd Syamil Harun, 10, was hit by a car while crossing the road to SK Santong in Dungun. He died on the spot. A day later, SK Telok Medan’s Mohammad Haikal Helme, 11, was killed after a speeding lorry ploughed into him as he was trying to cross the road to school. He too died at the scene. On Thursday, Hani Harizah Hafizal, seven, suffered head injuries and a broken arm after she was hit by a car outside her school in Alor Gajah, Malacca. The SK Pagoh pupil died at the Malacca Hospital on Friday.