Council Bans Lollipop Man from High-Fiving Pupils Over Safety Concerns

A school crossing patrol officer has been ordered to stop giving high fives to children due to concerns that it may distract them from learning how to cross the road safely.

For the past two years, 57-year-old Neil Cotton has greeted schoolchildren in Howden, East Yorkshire, with cheerful high fives as they crossed the road. His gesture was intended to brighten their day — but local authorities have now told him to stop, citing health and safety risks.

According to East Riding of Yorkshire Council, the practice could divert children's attention from traffic, posing a potential safety hazard. Mr Cotton was also told that some drivers were frustrated by the brief delays caused by the high fives, with one complaint suggesting it added up to 10 seconds to their journey.

In a social media post, Mr Cotton wrote: "I have been instructed that I can no longer high-five children whilst crossing the road. This is because it upsets some drivers having to wait another 10 seconds."

He also claimed he had been told to stop guiding larger vehicles around a nearby corner — another precaution by the council to reduce liability in the event of an accident.

The decision has drawn criticism from local parents. Kirsty Wilcox told the BBC's Look North: "I think it's wrong. Why shouldn't he? It puts a smile on the kids' faces. My son does it all the time — now he's upset because he's not allowed to anymore."

Another parent, Theresa Holt, said the friendly greeting gave her child "a little bit of happiness" each day. "He's great with my little boy and he sees him as a friendly face," she added.

A spokesperson for the council responded: "It is vitally important that children learn to cross the road safely, concentrating without any distractions, walking carefully and being vigilant of the traffic."

PM Law