Parents flag safety fears at school gates
Concerns from parents about motorists — reportedly including young drivers — travelling at high speed past Sandwick Junior High School have been passed to Police Scotland following discussion at a recent community council meeting.
Community safety and resilience board chair Allison Duncan told members of Sandwick Community Council on Tuesday, 30th June that residents had approached him about vehicles accelerating through the area during the morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up. The behaviour, he said, was especially troubling when bairns were entering or leaving the school grounds.
Mr Duncan said youths were going past the school at “substantial speed”. He added that Area Inspector Sam Greshon indicated she would “activiate operational issues with regards to that problem”.
Following those representations, the matter has been formally raised with local police. While specific enforcement steps were not set out, the indication of operational action suggests targeted attention in the vicinity of the school at peak times.
Speeding highlighted in latest policing report
The issue in Sandwick comes against a backdrop of wider road safety concerns across Shetland. The most recent policing report submitted to the community safety and resilience board notes that, although overall motoring offences have reduced year-on-year, the number of drivers detected for speeding has increased.
| Indicator | Previous year | Current year |
|---|---|---|
| Drivers caught speeding | 16 | 21 |
In parallel, residents have continued to report poor driving on local roads through community channels. Posts on the Shetland Road Conditions Facebook page have described incidents where cyclists were overtaken as oncoming traffic approached, a horse rider ended up in a ditch when a motorist failed to slow down, and motorists stopped in live traffic near Weidsale voe to watch dolphins.
Policy moves on main routes
Road safety has also been in focus along the A970. Shetland Islands Council recently proposed reducing the speed limit through Cunningsburgh from 50mph to 40mph, a move welcomed by South Mainland councillors Alex Armitage and Robbie McGregor. Although that change concerns a different location, the debate reflects broader efforts to lower risk on busy stretches where local and through traffic mix.
Advocates for lower limits often point to the compounding hazards near schools — frequent turning movements, limited visibility at peak times, and young pedestrians who may be less predictable. Parents in Sandwick have framed their concerns squarely in that context, emphasising the need for consistent speeds and driver attention at drop-off and pick-up.
Community voices and next steps
Residents who spoke to representatives at the Sandwick meeting characterised the driving as visible and persistent when children are present. That has raised expectations of a prompt and visible response from authorities. The indication from the Area Inspector that operational issues would be activated suggests some combination of patrol presence, targeted checks, or engagement with drivers may follow.
While the precise timetable for any interventions has not been set out, community representatives have urged continued reporting of problem driving to help police direct resources. Collated intelligence from public reports and social media posts has underpinned recent enforcement priorities across the islands.
Practical reminders for drivers
- Slow well in advance of school approaches at morning and afternoon peaks, and be prepared to stop.
- Give cyclists and horse riders ample space and reduce speed; anticipate the unexpected.
- Avoid stopping in live traffic to view wildlife or scenery; pull in only where it is safe and legal.
The concerns from Sandwick add to a picture emerging across Shetland: overall motoring offences may be down, but some risky behaviours persist. For families navigating the school run, the stakes are high. As attention turns to enforcement and possible mitigation, the message from local representatives is clear: shared roads demand shared responsibility.
