Transport Minister Edwina Hart announced a £4.5m three-year programme to improve safety at more than 40 schools on trunk roads throughout Wales, mostly through the use of part-time 20mph speed limits.
Following a Welsh Government review of safety on walking and cycling routes to schools on Wales’ trunk road network, 56 schools were identified as having potential for road safety improvements. Earlier this year part-time advisory 20mph speed limits were introduced at eight schools, and they are now in the process of being made permanent. The Minister announced 41 more schools would receive part time 20mph limits, three will get engineering measures to improve safety and four had no measures identified but will now be part of discussions with the local authority about what else can be done to improve safety. The work will be completed over the next three years. Part time limits work through the use of electronic signs that indicate the 20mph speed limits during school pick-up and drop-off times. Outside of those times the usual speed limits will apply.
Mrs Hart said, “Evidence shows that 20mph speed limits can improve driver behaviour and reduce speeds around schools. However due to the nature of the trunk road network and some of the long distance journeys undertaken we need to balance the need of the drivers and that is where part-time 20mph speed limits can play a part.
“As well as improving safety and saving lives I hope this will enable more children and young people to walk or cycle to school. Where appropriate we have also identified engineering works to encourage active travel to schools. I am committed to improving safety on our trunk road network and for the communities that live nearby.”
Statistical evidence in the 2009 Welsh Government-commissioned report ‘Evaluation of 20mph Limits and Zones in Wales’ showed a reduction in personal injury collisions within 20mph schemes – an average of 312 per year before, reduced to 193 per year after.
Anecdotal evidence in the form of feedback from local authorities in Wales indicates that implementing 20mph schemes has resulted in wider benefits in terms of walking and cycling as well as positive feedback on road safety outside schools.
The eight schools who already have part time 20mph limits in place are:
Ceredigion
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Gwynedd
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Powys
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| The 41 schools to have part-time 20mph speed limits introduced are: | ||
| Carmarthenshire
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Ceredigion
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Conwy
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Denbighshire
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Gwynedd
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Pembrokeshire
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Powys
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| Schools to receive engineering measures to improve safety:
Monmouthshire
Pembrokeshire Fishguard Primary School – Provision dropped kerbs and waiting restrictions. The school will be covered by full time 20mph speed limit in Fishguard. |
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