A CITY councillor hopes a new flashing sign will help win a battle to get speeding motorists to slow down outside a city school.
As the Observer reported last month, fears were raised over the safety of pupils at Dines Green Primary School after it emerged thousands of drivers had ignored the 20mph speed zone on Tudor Way.
A survey carried out by highways bosses revealed 23,168 vehicles had exceeded the limit, with only 8,343 staying within it, in just over a two week period.
Coun Richard Udall, councillor for the area, said he was shocked by the figures and he hopes the installation of an activated speed sign, which flashes when a motorist drivers over 20mph, will combat the problem.
“Speeding traffic is a major concern in Dines Green as it is mentioned on the doorstep all the time,” he said. “I fear for the safety of school children, so if this sign makes just a few motorists slow down it will have worked.”
Coun Udall used money from a pot he gets to spend on the community to purchase the £2,700 sign, which will also count the number of times it is activated, and headteacher Stephen Gough has welcomed the investment.
“I am really pleased that notice is being taken for the speeding in the area,” Mr Gough said.
“It has become a very busy road and despite the cushions in the road people very often seem to be going more than 20mph.
“We have one of the highest proportion of children walking to school in our county, so anything to be done to make the road safer I would applaud.”
However, Coun Udall said there was still plenty to do to reduce traffic problems in St John’s as he said concerns were often raised about “rat-running” in the area.
“Across St John’s people tell me they are concerned about speeding traffic,”
Coun Udall added. “It has become a quality of life issue and I am determined to do all I can to help to reduce the problem.
“I want St John’s to be a safer place and by reducing the average speed of vehicles we will go a long way to accomplish this endeavour.
“I hope the new vehicle activated sign will be just the beginning of measures to be taken to reclaim the streets from speeding and inconsiderate motorists.”
