Minister considering further temporary 20mph zones after successful trial at NI schools

The Infrastructure Minister is considering introducing temporary 20mph zones across more areas of Northern Ireland following a successful trial at more than 200 schools.

Minister John O’Dowd has welcomed the publication of the review into Part-Time 20mph Speed Limits at schools saying that it has shown that there was a general decrease in traffic speeds at school start and finish times with the scheme being welcomed by schools, parents and children.

He has said that he is now looking at the introduction of further schemes in other areas and has asked for consideration to be made for the possiblity of introducing permanent 20mph speed limits in the vicinity of schools and in residential areas.

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Welcoming publication of the review report Minister O’Dowd said: “As Minister responsible for road safety, I’m pleased that the review of the part-time 20mph speed limit at schools initiative, which saw this road safety measure introduced at 216 schools, is now complete and the report has been published.

“The review concludes that the initiative has been widely welcomed and supported by the school community including parents and school children as well as making young people feel safer outside school grounds. The data collected as part of the review also shows that there has been a general decrease in traffic speeds at both school start and finish times, as a result of the installation of the part-time speed limits.

“I am now considering the introduction of a further scheme to enable these safety measures to be installed in some more areas. I have also asked for consideration to be given to the introduction of permanent 20mph speed limits in the vicinity of schools and in residential areas as I believe that one of the best ways to improve the safety of our roads and fulfil our long-term goal of eliminating death and serious injury by 2050, is by changing road user behaviour. As road users we all have a personal responsibility to behave in a way that keeps ourselves and others safe.

“The sad reality is that if we do not change our own attitudes when we are using the roads, our death toll will continue to increase.”

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