Wardened off: Roger Green has been told that his greetings to children confuse drivers and slow down traffic (Picture: BPM)

A lollipop man has been ordered to stop ‘high-fiving’ children on his primary school crossing – in case he causes an accident.

Roger Green was told by council bosses that his greeting ‘confuses drivers’ and takes their attention away from the road.

But parents at the school branded the ban ‘ridiculous’ and urged the council to reverse its decision.

The 64-year-old warden was informed at his annual assessment that a driver had complained about his actions slowing down traffic.


Mr Green said: ‘I put a sign up for couple of days saying that I could no longer high-five children.

‘The parents say they can’t understand why the ban is in place.



‘I have to follow what my boss says, but it is a harmless piece of fun and all the children like it.’

Safety first: Roger Green sees pupils across the road… without any ‘high-fives’ (Picture: BPM)

Now parents at Sandy Lane Primary School are planning to send a petition to the council in Bracknell, Berkshire.

Mother-of-four Leith Kilmartin, 33, said: ‘He is still very attentive to the children and the traffic and the high-five makes their day.

‘He is the sweetest man, he loves children and is good at what he does. He is not taking his attention away from the traffic so I think it is ridiculous.’

Suzanne Curtis, 32, a mother of two, added: ‘It’s a little thing but it means so much to the children. How do you explain to the two or three-year-old brothers and sisters they are not allowed to high-five him any more?’

A Bracknell Forest council spokeswoman said: ‘Children stopping as they cross the road for a “high-five” puts them and the crossing patrol man at risk and confuses drivers. Parents wouldn’t thank us if we let this continue.’