We call on Hampshire County Council to reduce the speed limits of school roads to 20mph
In January of this year, it was debated in Westminster about making 20mph zones outside schools. By taking this step, we aim to promote safer streets for children, parents, and school staff, and to help prevent potential future harm.
Many primary and secondary schools in the Fareham Borough are located on small, residential streets. Even with 30mph speed limits, some drivers still take enormous risk by exceeding these speed limits, posing unnecessary danger to parents and children during school time.
Evidence shows vehicles travelling at 20mph cause 20% fewer casualties, 25% less pollution and 50% less noise than a car travelling at 30mph. Sadly, 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.
We urge Hampshire County Council – as the highway’s authority – to:
- Ask for the introduction of 20mph zones outside all schools in Fareham Borough, subject to local feasibility and community consultation; and
- To prioritise the implementation of these reduced speed zones as a matter of public safety, supporting the principle that “Twenty is Plenty” when it comes to protecting children outside schools.
We believe that making this change will protect our children, reduce accidents, and make Fareham a safer place for all road users.
A message from Portchester Castle Councillor David Wiltshire
"As a ward councillor in Portchester, I along with my colleagues, have been contacted over concerns for road safety around schools.
Outside of Castle Primary School, Portchester and Portchester Community School, I have been made aware of several “near misses” where cars travelling along roads directly outside of these schools are careless of the speeds they are traveling at.
We recognise that vehicle speed is a critical factor in the severity of road traffic incidents. In reducing speed limits outside of schools, we can significantly reduce the risk of injury or death."
Let's make the school run safer. Sign our petition today to call for safer roads around our schools.
Petition: 20mph Speed Limit on School Roads
I call for a reduction of speed limits of school roads to 20mph
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