Signs and flashing lights are being installed outside 15 Plymouth schools to help lower traffic speeds when pupils return in September.
The new ’20 when lights show’ signs and flashing amber hazard warning lights are designed to make drivers more aware of their speed outside the school gate.
The lights flash at the start and end of the school day and indicate that the advisory speed limit on these roads at that time is 20mph. They aim to improve road safety and encourage more pupils, parents and staff to travel to school on foot and by bike.
Signs will be installed at Wood View Learning Community, Woodford Primary School, Heles School, Goosewell Primary Academy, Elburton Primary Academy, Devonport High School for Boys, St Matthew’s C of E Primary and Nursery Academy, Holy Cross Catholic Primary School, Manadon Vale Primary School, Oak Wood Primary Academy School, High View School, College Road Primary School, Eggbuckland Vale Primary School and Nursery, Plymouth Academy of Creative Arts and Stoke Damerel Primary Academy.
These schools have been chosen because they are in areas with a lot of through traffic and pedestrians, data has shown higher speeds or child pedestrian casualties nearby and there have been ongoing road safety issues or concerns from schools, parents and residents.
Research shows that lower traffic speeds reduce the number of collisions and casualties and where collisions do happen there is less risk of fatal injury. The Council will be monitoring traffic speeds in the autumn term to assess how effective they have been.
Councillor Mark Coker, Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning and Infrastructure said: “We want to encourage more children to walk and cycle to school by lowering traffic speed so that parents and pupils feel safer outside the school gate. We’re really pleased with how well these signs have been received by schools and hope to offer them to more schools over the coming months.”
Sarah Ryder Head of Manadon Vale Primary said “We are thrilled with the new flashing 20mph signs as dangerous driving is a real problem for the safety of our children at our school. We are hugely relieved that something has been done and I am very grateful for everyone's effort in making this happen.”
The ‘20 when lights show’ programme is being substantially funded from the £249,000 awarded to the Council from tranche one of the Department for Transport’s Emergency Active Travel Fund. To find out more see our Emergency Active Travel Fund page.