Pupil’s pelican crossing terror: Girl, seven, nearly mown down after driver was not paying attention at the wheel

The pedestrian crossing in Park Street, Thame - outside the John Hampden Primary School

A seven-year-old girl and her mother were left shaken and ‘distressed’ after nearly being knocked down by a driver who ran a red light.

Molly Scott, her brother Max, three and mum Kerry, 39, were half way across the pelican crossing in Park Street, Thame at around 3.15pm on Friday, February 27 when the man driving a black 4x4 ‘sailed’ through the red light.

Mrs Scott, of Montrose Way, Thame, said: “I am militant about road safety with my children and they know never to cross until they see the green man, but out of the corner of my eye, I noticed the car coming towards us wasn’t braking and the driver was looking down rather than at the road.

“I shouted at Molly to stop as she was on her scooter, a second or two ahead of Max and I.

“Luckily she did and pulled back as he sailed across the crossing.

“He didn’t notice until he was actually on the crossing, just a few feet away from the us.

“He mouthed ‘sorry’, waved but didn’t stop.

“It was such a near miss, and very distressing.

“I was in tears and Molly was confused, apologising and asking what she’d done wrong.”

Now Mrs Scott is campaigning for safety changes to be made to the road outside John Hampden School after speaking to fellow parents about their similar concerns.

She said: “Other parents are worried about the uneasy mix of too much traffic and lots of small children on that road.

“There is nothing to tell drivers they are approaching a school.”