Russell calls for better road safety outside schools

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 26th Jun 2009

Bob Russell MP beside a "slow" sign on the road

Colchester's road safety campaigning MP is calling for the town to lead the way with the provision of two different types of new safety signs to be introduced outside local schools.

MP Bob Russell has written to Essex County Highways with photographs of the signs - reproduced here - which he has seen being used separately in other parts of the country. The first is of the "school" sign actually painted on the road surface, while the second introduces a 20mph speed limit outside schools during arrival and leaving times.

Mr Russell, who is Chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Road Safety Group, said: "I believe that both signs, used together, will dramatically increase safety awareness for both motorists and the school community. I have never seen either sign used elsewhere in the country previously. I came across them, separately, in different parts of the country.

"I am hoping that the County Council will at least accept my request for an experiment outside one school, and that this will then quickly spread to all other schools located on roads carrying through traffic. Both signs are excellent road safety warning measures which will provide added warning protection for children."

Mr Russell said that the "school" sign painted on the highway was on a road near the Department of Transport in London, and as he had not seen one anywhere else he was wondering if it was an experiment.

The second sign, introducing a 20mph speed limit during school arrival and leaving times, was outside schools in the Chesterfield area which he noticed when visiting family members last month.