Last week I secured a Westminster Hall debate on road safety around schools. This issue has become the most common subject of correspondence I have had from constituents, even more so since mid-November when my constituency of Chester South and Eddisbury was shaken by an accident that meant a child, leaving school, did not return home. No parent, no family, no school and no local community should ever have to deal with the pain of losing a child on their way home from school. As a mum myself, and the local Member of Parliament, I have been deeply moved by this tragedy, the outpouring of love from our community and the resolve shown to make a difference to prevent such a tragedy from occurring elsewhere.
The accident took place on a road with a speed limit of 40mph, directly outside the entrance to the school. Just half a mile further down the road is a nursery. In my opinion, and that of at least 14,000 people who have signed a petition and live in my constituency and around this road, 40mph is too high. Reducing speed can make a huge difference to the severity of an incident involving a vehicle. There is a 2.5% chance of fatality if a pedestrian is hit by a car travelling at 20mph, this increases drastically to a 90% chance of fatality if a pedestrian is hit by a car travelling at 40mph. There are several examples across my constituency of a road exceeding 20mph directly outside a school entrance or within the vicinity. Given such a stark contrast in outcome, surely a 20mph limit outside schools is suitable and sensible?
During my Westminster Hall debate last week I suggested that local authorities should be directed to enforce a 20mph zone outside schools as a default. There are examples of mitigations that have been implemented by councils across the country that have seen a reduction in the number of accidents on roads outside schools, as mentioned by colleagues during the debate. Where sensible, pragmatic and effective methods are used to reduce speed near to the school, and if the condition and context of the road allows, local authorities could seek to increase the speed limit. Crucially, the onus would become to justify greater speeds, not to have to justify why 20mph is appropriate. In doing so, we can better protect and mitigate against needless tragedies and manage speed for the good of our children outside schools.
Sadly, all too often we react when a terrible accident occurs rather than recognising dangerous conditions and acting to prevent an incident. For the 11 year-old boy who went to school in my constituency, his family, school and community, it is tragically too late. However, we can act to make changes in the future. I was encouraged by the response of colleagues who contributed during the debate. The Minister for the Future of Roads, who responded on behalf of the Government recognised the importance of child safety outside schools citing the current powers that lie with local authorities but stopped short of agreeing with my suggestion of a default 20mph zone. I am looking forward to continuing the campaign to reduce speed outside schools, on behalf of and alongside so many of my constituents and countless others across the country because we cannot put our children unnecessarily in harm’s way.
Introducing 20mph limits outside schools is not just sensible, but would save lives
