GoSafe – The Wales Road Casualty Reduction Partnership will be enforcing in School’s 20mph areas

A new “20mph Rule Outside Schools” campaign has been launched focussing on making roads safer in communities. 

GoSafe – The Wales Road Casualty Reduction Partnership will be enforcing in 20mph areas and educating drivers about the importance of adhering to the relevant limit.  The campaign is principally aimed at reducing risk to young persons and supporting local communities with September being a key time for children at the start of the academic year.

20mph areas, both zones and limits, have been around for a considerable time, it is important that drivers understand that those 20mph areas are there to improve safety, and that failure to keep within the limit puts children at risk, and leaves drivers liable to prosecution.

GoSafe will be focusing enforcement around 20mph areas outside schools in September.  Better enforcement within these areas will increase compliance to the speed limit and contribute to the safety of the roads in Wales.

Slower speeds in communities have also been shown to support people to become more active, through increased cycling and walking.  According to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (ROSPA) while there is a 20% chance of fatal injury when someone is hit by a car travelling at 30mph, this reduces to just 2.5% if the car is travelling at 20mph.

Chris Hume, Partnership Manager, GoSafe said; “The launch of “20mph Rule Outside Schools” will help road users to stop, think and kill their speed, encouraging all local people who use the roads to have greater respect not only for one another but also their surrounding community.  We will continue to work together with our partners on community engagement activities to make the streets outside schools safer.  Our aim is for everyone in Wales to understand the effects that those exceeding the 20mph limit can have on families and friends.”

“The motoring public should be aware that we will also continue to enforce both the limit and other traffic offences such as mobile phone and seatbelt use which will link in with the TISPOL and Think campaigns scheduled for September.”

Chief Inspector Darren Wareing, North Wales Police said; ” North Wales and GoSafe will be conducting enforcement outside North Wales schools focusing upon mobile phone usage, non-wearing of seat belt and excessive speed.  This enforcement will also be conducted outside schools located within 20mph limits.  This forms part of a supports a national campaign across Wales to heighten awareness of working within our communities to reduce the risks of collisions outside of our schools.”Susan Storch, Chair of Road Safety Wales said; “Children are potentially amongst the most vulnerable road users because of their age and lack of experience in certain situations.  Reducing speeds outside schools will encourage children to walk and cycle to school, reduce congestion and improve the residential environment.  Working with our partners in GoSafe we want to remind drivers and riders that lower speeds provide a safer road environment.”

GoSafe adheres to Welsh Government and ACPO guidelines, but would ask all drivers to be aware – there are no enforcement free times and no enforcement free locations.  All enforcement sites are dealth with on a case by case basis.