Speed Sign - Pic: Craig Rodway

The Summer holidays are over and the School term begins for many this week.  As we spoke about earlier in the year (read article here).  This week (commencing September 6), the signs have been switched on, aiming at reducing the speed of drivers in the area of both Glascote Heath Primary School and Wilnecote High School

County Councillor Lee Bates, whose division includes Wilnecote High School, said:

“These signs give a crystal clear warning to motorists – slow down around schools. Hit a child at 20mph and they have a chance of surviving – but this drops dramatically by 30mph.

“One child getting hurt – or worse still killed – on Staffordshire’s roads is too many. We are very serious about road safety and this scheme reflects that.”

County Councillor Brian Beale, who represents the area that Glascote Heath Primary School falls into, added:

“This project aims to drastically change driver behaviour and instil in motorists the importance of reducing speeds near to schools.

“The impact of the 20mph zones could potentially be lifesaving.”

The initial phase of the project will run until December. In January, the 16 signs will be moved on to the next wave of schools which will be announced later in the year.

The ‘20 is Plenty’ signs will be in operation during school run times to protect pupils, but ensure that traffic flows are unaffected when children are in class, and during school holidays.

Staffordshire is already number one in the UK for child road safety. It’s a position achieved through innovative road safety action, including the Walking Bus and Safer Routes to School programmes and a host of education and training projects.