🚸 Road Safety: Schools

• Aphra Brandreth (Chester South and Eddisbury, Con) initiated a debate on road safety around schools, highlighting a tragic incident where a young boy was killed outside a school in her constituency. She called for a review of speed limits near schools, proposing a default 20 mph limit outside schools, with any deviation needing a justifiable reason.

• Chris Vince (Harlow, Lab/Co-op) shared a similar incident where a speeding car crashed into a school fence in his constituency, stressing the need for faster community-level action and suggesting devolution could empower local changes in traffic management.

• Jim Shannon (Strangford, DUP) discussed successful 20 mph zones near schools in Northern Ireland, which have also encouraged active travel to school, reducing car use and improving children’s physical activity.

• Tristan Osborne (Chatham and Aylesford, Lab) endorsed 20 mph zones and described a “school streets” initiative in Medway, which uses technology to restrict vehicle access during school run times, improving safety and encouraging active transport.

• Richard Foord (Honiton and Sidmouth, LD) raised concerns about a delayed repair of a pedestrian bridge vital for children’s safety, criticising regulations that prioritize environmental concerns over child safety.

• Joe Morris (Hexham, Lab) recounted a case where insufficient signage jeopardised safety around schools in his constituency, urging improved signage and road conditions, alongside road safety education.

• John Slinger (Rugby, Lab) discussed the benefits of “school street” schemes and stressed the importance of a partnership approach involving schools, local councils, and residents to improve safety.

• Andy MacNae (Rossendale and Darwen, Lab) argued for average speed cameras around primary schools on busy roads and a proactive approach to road safety rather than reacting to incidents.

• Wera Hobhouse (Bath, LD) highlighted the dangers of speeding around schools and called for 20 mph zones as a default, with education programs to encourage safer road behavior and alternative transport methods.

• Greg Smith (Mid Buckinghamshire, Con) reflected on the progress in reducing child pedestrian and cyclist fatalities but stressed the need for continued local efforts, particularly in rural areas, to enhance school road safety.

• Lilian Greenwood, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport, responded to the debate, expressing sympathy for the families affected by tragic incidents and affirming the government’s commitment to improving road safety around schools through local authority initiatives, 20 mph zones, and active travel programs. She also mentioned an upcoming road safety strategy.

The session on road safety around schools showed minimal disagreement among the participating Members of Parliament. The debate was characterized by a unified focus on enhancing road safety measures around schools, with all speakers expressing concern about the safety of children and proposing various initiatives and measures to address the issue. Here are some key points that support the assessment of low disagreement:

• Unanimous Concern: Every speaker expressed deep concern about child safety on roads near schools, often citing personal experiences or incidents within their constituencies, such as the tragic accident mentioned by Aphra Brandreth.

• Support for Speed Limits: There was broad support for implementing or reducing speed limits to 20 mph outside schools. Aphra Brandreth, Jim Shannon, and Wera Hobhouse all advocated for this measure, with no voiced opposition to the idea.

• Endorsement of Initiatives: Various initiatives like school streets, active travel, and educational programs were supported across the board. For instance, Tristan Osborne and John Slinger emphasized the effectiveness of school street schemes, while Jim Shannon highlighted successful programs in Northern Ireland.

• Constructive Suggestions: Speakers offered constructive suggestions without challenging each other’s viewpoints. For example, Richard Foord suggested reviewing regulations that might delay infrastructure improvements, while Andy MacNae proposed the use of average speed cameras.

• Ministerial Response: The Minister, Lilian Greenwood, responded positively to the concerns raised and acknowledged the suggestions, reinforcing the general consensus on the need for action to improve road safety around schools.

• Absence of Confrontation: There were no instances of direct disagreement or contentious exchanges. Even when speakers took up points made by others, they did so in a supportive manner, such as when Matt Rodda agreed with Tristan Osborne’s suggestion about school streets and expanded on it.

Overall, the session was characterized by a collaborative and supportive atmosphere, with all participants focused on finding solutions to improve road safety around schools.