North East campaigners call for lower speed limits to and from schools
More than 85,000 children are taking part in a campaign across the UK today
Campaigners in the North East and Teesside are calling for lower speed limits on roads where children travel to and from school.
Stats by Brake show over 200 kids were killed or injured on roads in our region in 2023.
More than 85,000 children across the UK are taking part in the charity's Kids Walk campaign today.
Today (Wednesday 11th June), Brake has sent a letter to Future Roads Minister Lillian Greenwood MP calling for the Government to commit to introducing 20mph as the default speed limit on roads in built-up and residential areas as part of its eagerly awaited Road Safety Strategy.
With excess speed a factor in a quarter of fatal road crashes, the charity urges the Minister to prioritise measures that will make children’s journeys to and from school safer.
Brake research reveals parents support 20mph speed limits
According to new research published by Brake, four-fifths (80%) of parents and carers surveyed would like roads near their home and children’s schools to have a speed limit of 20mph. In addition, 85% of those surveyed said they would like the Government to do more to make roads safer in their community.
Of the 2,010 parents and carers of primary schoolchildren surveyed, more than half (55%) would like their children to walk or wheel to school more often, but many say they can’t because the roads are too busy (40%), traffic moves too fast (28%) and there are no suitable crossings (14%).
More than 85,000 children (aged 4–11) from more than 600 schools and youth groups, are taking part in Brake's Kids Walk today, to shout out for their right to make safe and healthy journeys without fear or threat from traffic.
The schoolchildren taking part will complete a short, supervised walk around their schools and/or communities. They will carry banners and posters, provided by Brake, to help raise awareness of the five things they need to help keep them safe near roads: slower traffic, cleaner traffic, better footpaths, better cycle paths, and safe places to cross.
Luca Straker, campaigns manager at Brake, said: “We all want children to be able to travel to and from school safely. But, sadly, every day, more than 16 primary schoolchildren are harmed on our roads. We know that excess speed is a factor in about a quarter of fatal crashes – and the physics is pretty straightforward: the faster a vehicle is travelling, the harder it hits and the greater the impact.
“We have good evidence to show that by lowering the speed limits on our roads, we reduce the risk of people being harmed. In September 2023, the Welsh Government took a bold step in reducing the default speed limit on roads in built-up and residential areas to 20mph. Within the first year, collisions on these roads had reduced by 26%.
“Our research also shows us that people want 20mph speed limits around their homes and their children’s schools. Slow traffic means safer journeys for children. We must do everything we can to keep our children safe!”
A DFT spokesperson said: “The safety of our roads will always be our priority and we expect local authorities to ensure local speed limits are suitable.”