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many thanks to the stunning Linny Raven for bringing this article to our atenssssssion

Road rage threatens lollipop men and women
(originally seen on BBC Online 25 October 1999)

they even made up this little logo
isn't that beautiful?

In a school gymnasium in Derby, half a dozen lollipop
ladies of a certain age are learning how to deal with
the stresses and strains of the job. As well as the
usual advice on rules of the road, they are being
taught how to cope with the growing problem of
aggressive drivers. Road rage - that 90s phenomenon
which has seen irate drivers square up to one another
on a daily basis - is now afflicting the school
crossing warden.

In the first six months of the year in Derbyshire,
three wardens needed hospital treatment after being
hit by cars, and more than 60 complained of
intimidation from drivers. Now lollipop ladies are
receiving special training originally used to help
bouncers deal with drunken nightclub revellers. The
courses are being run by Derby City Council. Elaine
Boole, who guards a crossing on Derby's busy outer
ring road, was one of the first to take part.

'Dislike of uniform'

Mrs Boole, a diminutive and inoffensive figure in her
cap and fluorescent uniform, often has to stand firm
in the face of driver aggression. "I get people
getting out of their cars to give me very abusive
language, they go past without stopping when I'm stood
in the middle," she said.

Mrs Boole said the course had proved useful. "You have
to remember that it isn't you personally, it is your
job that they are threatening and being abusive to not
you.

"Perhaps they're in a hurry, all sorts of things,
perhaps they just don't like uniform."

'Rude words'

Another victim of road rage was Eileen Smith, who
found a motorist edging his vehicle closer and closer
to her as she stood in the middle of the road.

She said: "He called me a lot of rude words. His
passenger got out and started calling me a lot of
other rude names. I stood in front of the car so it
couldn't go anywhere and took the number."

The lollipop ladies are being taught how to recognise
potentially dangerous drivers and how to defuse tense
situations through body language. Course organiser
Matthew Deakin said some thoughtless motorists are
frightening lollipop ladies and threatening
recruitment.

He said: "It can be a thankless job. They go out in
all weathers and it's not a job that everybody would
like.

"It may make them think twice about doing it again and
we have had some people in the past who have decided
that it was too much for them."

we would be grateful if the cynical among you would
note that this picture was in no way 'staged' for the camera
------------------------------------------------------

(BBC Online 25 October 1999)

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