Children at two Durham Primary schools are the latest in the county to enjoy a safer journey to school as new Slow to 20 signs were installed on adjacent roads this week.
Mill Lane and Renny’s Lane in Gilesgate, Durham which serve St Joseph’s RCVA Primary School and St Hild’s College CE Primary School are the latest areas to benefit from slower traffic flow as part of our Slow to 20 for Safer Streets project.
Three pupils from the two schools, Ofe Isanbor and Amelia Parker from St Joseph’s and Divine Erhunmwunse from St Hild’s won a competition to design the signs and were on hand to see the work of our installation team being revealed.
Increased safety
Cllr Brian Stephens, cabinet member for Neighbourhoods and Local Partnerships, attended along with John Reed, our head of Technical Services who also judged the winning competition entries and Paul Watson, Road Safety Manager.
Cllr Stephens said: "It’s great that Ofe, Amelia and Divine and all their friends and fellow pupils can see their work every day as they pass them on their way to school."
"The design a sign competition was part of our Slow to 20 for Safer Streets project and we wanted to get children from across County Durham involved as they are the prime beneficiaries of increased safety around their schools through reduced speed."
Speed awareness
The Slow to 20 for Safer Streets project was launched in 2014, the first 20 scheme was introduced in 2015 and includes 33 schools where part-time limits have been put in place based on various factors including traffic speeds, accident data and potential risk to pedestrians.
The other locations in the 2017 phase of the project are Peterlee, Easington, Seaham, Horden, Spennymoor and Durham.
Slow to 20 road signs video
The project is funded by a one-off Public Health Grant of £952,850 and is accompanied by an education programme which aims to make children more road aware, promote cycling and walking and increase speed awareness among motorists.
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