COUNTY NEWS: Video - Shocked dad slams '˜inconsiderate' drivers who ignored his nine-year-old

A Sussex dad says he was '˜shocked' to see drivers whizz past his little girl patiently standing at a zebra crossing waiting to cross the road by herself for the very first time.
Zebra crossing SUS-160728-082136001Zebra crossing SUS-160728-082136001
Zebra crossing SUS-160728-082136001

Nine-year-old Nathalie’s dad Trevor Upham. had already seen seven or eight cars go past before he decided to start filming.

He said, “I just put it on my Facebook page just to say look at these inconsiderate drivers but friends picked up on it and it went from there.

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“It is the main crossing for that whole playground and I was amazed at the comments I got with everybody saying how they use that crossing and cars never stop. Kids use it an awful lot.”

Zebra crossing SUS-160728-082136001Zebra crossing SUS-160728-082136001
Zebra crossing SUS-160728-082136001

“My daughter is nine years old and it was meant to be the first time she had ever used a zebra crossing by herself. We were in the park and she went to get something out of the car.

“After she left I went to keep an eye on her, but kept my distance as she wanted to do it herself. I only started filming after about six or seven cars had whizzed past and I thought this was crazy. I thought I would video it to show people how inconsiderate motorists can be.”

Technically drivers were not doing anything wrong because cars only have to stop once you step onto the crossing.

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But Trevor said: “My argument is, well, no way I’m going to tell my kids to step onto the crossing with cars coming, don’t go on the crossing until the cars have come to a standstill. My friend in Paris had her leg broken as she stepped onto a crossing and a car ploughed into her.

Natalie Upham SUS-160728-082106001Natalie Upham SUS-160728-082106001
Natalie Upham SUS-160728-082106001

“I’ve been a road user for many years in cars and bikes and I know how inconsiderate car drivers are. They use their peripheral vision, they don’t look around just straight ahead, which you need to do especially coming to a zebra crossing.

“Imagine if that was a different kid who might run across the road because they saw their friend or their ball went in the road, or any reason.”

Trevor, who lives in Seaford, says he has been in touch with a local councillor Carol Campbell, the deputy mayor, who said she would bring it up at the next council meeting.

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